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KECOLliECTIONS 



ExVRLY SETTLEMENT 



WABASH VALLEY. 



BY SANDFORD C. COX 



LAFAYETTE: 



<X)UalKBHTF;AM BOTIC AND JOB PRINTING IIOVSE, OIlfOSTREET. 



ENTERED AOOOKDINO TO ACT OF CONGREeS, IN THE TEAR 18G0, IN TUB CLEEK'S OFFICE OF 
THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UMITED 8TATE8 FOE THE DI8TKICT OF IKDIAKA. 



F5 3^ 



PREFACE. 

The favorable reeepfion by the public of the series 
of articles on "Old Settlers," over the signature of 
"Incog." published in the Lafayette Daily Courier, 
during the months of October and November, 1859, 
has induced the writer to collect, revise, and re-publish 
those articles, with many others^ on the same subject, 
which have never heretofore appeared in print. 

To the few Old Settlers who slill remain among us, 
and the descendants of others who have passed from the 
stage of action, as well as many who have emigrated 
further west, this Book may contain sufficient inter- 
est to secure its perusal, and serve as a pleasant remem- 
brancer of the '-'days of other years"; while the mass of 
our present population may be curious to know something 
of the character and doings of the early settlers. 

AUTHOJi.. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Thirty-six years ago, at which time the hiBtorical skctclies 
contained in this little work commence, the greater portion of 
Indiana was almost an entire wilderness. Its wide and tangled 
forests, and undisturbed prairies were the haunts of wild beasts, 
and the home of the wandering Indian. Only here and there 
were to be seen the traces of civilization. Little was then known 
of the country, save it was considered as one of the far-west 
frontiers — with but a sparse population, and that population long 
destined to struggle with the many hardships and privations 
incident to a frontier life. 

The hai-dy boatman, as he descended the Ohio, could indeed 
see, peering through the dense forest, a few isolated log-cabins, 
and here and there a small "clearing," to use the significant lan- 
guage of the country and the times. But these mostly were close 
along the margin of the river, while back only a few miles distant, 
was the vast wilderness interior — still occupied by its native 
forest lords, whose hostile incursions were yet dreaded by the 
almost defenceless inhabitants. Bold and determined was the 
adventurer, who at that early period penetrated the western wilds, 
and sought in the bosom of the wilderness a sequestered home. 
But there were to be found those whose enterprise and daring 
well qualified them for the aiduous task. 

Kentucky and Ohio, which had but lately been settled, amid 
all the hardships of border life, and the ularms of savage warfare, 



INTRODUCTION. 

^were well prepared to furnisli pioneers to subdue another wilder- 
ness. And it was only those who were inured to perils, and had 
often met the Indian in his ambuscade, that first pressed into the 
wilds of Indiana, and laid the foundation of our present happiness 
and prosperity. Although the first settlement of this country was 
.not as strongly opposed by the Indians as was the settlement of 
iKentucky, yet nevertheless many of our hardy pioneers were made 
the hapless victims of savage vengeance. Although there was 
not in general, that open hostility and settled determination, on 
the part of the Indians, to maintain the soil, yet there was, if 
possible, a more terrible mode of warfare, which the most 
sautious vigilance of the settler could not guard against. Mid- 
night massacres, and the burning of cabins over the butchered 
remains of the vanquished, often spread consternation thi-oughout 
the border settlements, and added another vial to the just indig- 
nation of the settler against the savage marauders, who, in their 
turn, were frequently made to feel the fierce ban of retributive 
vengeance. But in proportion as the small stream of emigration 
gradually increased, these tragedies became less frequent, and the 
ruthless Indian was driven still further back into his native 
wilderness. The rill of emigration soon swelled into a river, 
which poured a strong and steady current of population into the 
hearts of forests which had long stood undisturbed in their sylvan 
magnificence, but were now doomed to bow before the leveling 
axe of industry. The Indians, conscious of their inability long 
to withstand the encroachments of the whites, who were now 
rapidly thronging their borders, began to think seriously of 
making a virtue of necessity, by selling certain portions of their 
domain to the United States, and thereby avoiding further diflS- 
culties, which could not result otherwise than to their disadvan- 
tage. Their propositions to dispose of their lands were readily 
acceded to by the government of the United States; and one treaty 
after another was held with the different tribes (and there were 



INTRODUCTION. 

many), who for a scanty remuneration relinquished their claims 
to large districts of excellent land. 

Scarcely were the brands of their conncil-fires extinguished, 
ere the forest resounded with the axe-man's blows, and the prolific 
bosom of the earth was made bare for the reception of its new 
occupants, who soon made the "wilderness blossom as the rose" 
— the smiles of Cerus to pervade the interior of vast forests, and 
the cheerful hum of a thrifty population to greet the car of the 
astonished traveler. 

How vast the change which a few years have niatle in the 
appearance, condition and prospects of Indiana? Where but 
lately the Indians held their war-dance, and in frightful panto- 
mime and in songs celebrated the heroic deeds of their forefathers 
or burnt the devoted captive at the stake, is now the site of a 
populous town, containing all the elements of wealth, comfort, 
and prosperity. And it may be that on the very spot where the 
prophet priest was wont to chant his orisons, and pour his 
nightly incantations on the wind, now stands a magnificent 
sanctuary dedicated to the worship of the true God. Splendid 
dwellings — temples of justice, and of learning — have taken the 
place of the wigwam and the gauntlet ground. Our rivers, which 
had long remained undisturbed, save by the Frenchman's perogue, 
or the Indian's bark canoe, have since become the crowded chan- 
nels of a vast and increasing commerce — railroads and telegraph 
lines have spread their net-work over the land, as our rich and 
varied resources have been developed, and Indiana has taken a 
prominent position among her sister States, and has already 
become one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of freedom. 



CHAPTER I. 

YIBIT TO THE FRI60N OF THE INDIAN MURDERERS, I5RIDOE, SAWYER, 
HUDSON, AND JOHN BRIDGE, AT THE FALLS OF FALL CREEK, IN 

OCTODER, 1824 DESCRIPTION OF THE JAIL AND JAIL-YARD 

HARPER SHOT AT, BUT MADE HIS ESCAPE PRISONERS, WHO MUR- 
DERED NINE FRIENDLY INDIANS, MOST OF WHOM WERE WOMEN AND 

CHILDREN, CONVICTED HUDSON, BRIDGE, AND SAWYER HUNG ■ 

JOHN BRIDGE PARDONED BY THE GOVERNOR CROSSING WHITE 

RIVER AT Abbott's ford, on the strawtown trace — beck- 
worth's TRAVEL THROUGH THE WILDERNESS INDIAN SUMMER 

BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE LOSS OF STOCK, AND FRUITLESS SEARCH 

FOR THE SAME TWO BOYS LOST IN THE WILDERNESS. 

In furnisliing some extracts from the Journal of the Black 
Creek School Master, in relation to the early settlement of the 
Wabash Valley, I will first give a few entries made by the young 
journalist while on the road moving to this country. The first 
memorandum of any particular interest reads thus : 

Falls of Fall Creek, [ 

Madison Co., Ind., October 24, 1824.) 
Mr. Corey, the sheriff, took us in to see the Indian murderers 
— Bridge, Sawyer, Hudson, and John Bridge. Hudson is now 
under sentence of death. He sits apart from the rest, reading a 
small Bible. Old man Bridge, his son John, and Sawyer, aro 
reclining on the jail floor, dressed in brown pantaloons and blue 
linsey hunting shirts. Hudson has on a black woolen wamus, 
fastened with a leathern belt. He is quite penitent, talks but 
little, and appears to bo about forty years old, — heavy set, and 
inclines to be corpulent. Old man Bridge and Sawyer talked 
freely with father and others on the subject of their confinement. 
They each appear to be over fifty years of ago, and are thin and 
catlaverous. John Bridge is an over-grown boy of about twenty, 



10 

who aays liis fatlier and uucle iSawyer were the cause of his guilt. 
Last night they attempted to choke him to death in prison for 
disclosing their guilt — so say the guards, who relieved him from 
their murderous hands. 

These prisoners, with one Harper, (who escaped arrest,) ia 
cold blood, murdered nine friendly Indians, most of whom were 
women and children, while their husbands and fathers were 
absent on a hunting excursion, — cruelly shooting and stabbing 
the women, and knocking out the brains of the children against 
trees; concealed their dead and mangled bodies in a sink-hole 
hard by, then plundered their camp of furs, deer skins, and other 
valuables, which were afterwards found concealed under the floor 
of Sawyer's cabin. One of the Indian women, after remaining iu 
the water in the clay-hole amongst the dead bodies of her slaugh- 
tered relatives for two days and nights, was taken out alive. She 
said Bridge and his son. Sawyer, Harper, and Hudson were the 
murderers — lived a few hours, and died. 

It is thought here that Harper incited the others to participate 
in the bloody tragedy. Moses Cox, clerk of the court, shot at 
Harper with a rifle as he escaped precipitately down a hill. 

The jail is enclosed with pickets — logs placed on end in the 
ground, about sixteen feet high, forming an area around the prison 
of about eight rods square, in which is a guard house, wherein 
four sentinels are stationed, Avho keep watch day and night over 
the prisoners. The sad condition of these wretched prisoners is 
another melancholy proof of the truth of the scripture declaration 
— "the way of the transgressor is hard." 

A little brother of mine, who arrived too late to gain admittance 
with the rest of us, mounted one of the pickets, climbed over the 
top, and descended to the ground on the inside. A sentinel who 
witnessed the dexterous feat, raised his gun and yelled, "out with 
you," — the little chap, alarmed at either the whiskers or fire- 
arms of the "soger," instantly "obeyed orders," and as nimbly 
as a squirrel, mounted to the top of the picket, grinned defiance 
at the sentinel, and descended outside. 

To-morrow we start for Crawfordsville, on Sugar river, some 
fiixty miles distant. We expect to cross White river near Straw- 
town, then take the wilderness road by Thorntown, Wisehart's, 



11 

and thence down Sugar river to the Crawfordsville bCttlemeuL. 

All the above named prisoners, except John Bridge, were 
executed on the scaffold at the Falls; he was reprieved by Gov- 
ernor llay, under the gallows, after witnessing the execution of his 
fother, and uncle Sawyer. He survived this double tragedy but 
a short time, and died in about a year afterward of a broken 
heart. 

On the morning of the 25th of October, 1824, wo made an 
early start from the Falls, and in the evening arrived at Abbott's 
Ford, on White river, where we encamped for the night. Next 
morning, tlie 2Gth, we crossed the river and took the old Straw- 
town road, or rather Indian trace, which emigrants had widened 
into a rough wagon road. 

8oon after crossing the river we passed Beckworth's place. 
Mr. Ogle, who drove the team, told us to take a gooil look at that 
eabin, as it was the last house we would see for forty miles on 
onr journey. This was an unwelcome announcement to the 
younger members of our family; but father and mother, who were 
inured to frontier life — having been the lirst white family that 
ever settled in Wayne county, now the most populous and wealthy 
county in Indiana — seemed to care but little for the hardships 
and privations of the wilderness. 

Our ox team moved slowly along the narrow road, which 
wended through a vast, primeval forest, clothed in the rich drapery 
of Autumn. A more gorgeous and beautiful landscape I never 
beheld, sleeping in the golden haze of Indian Summer. But alas! 
how true the couplet of the song, which reads: 

"We should suspect some danger nigh, 
When we possess delight;" 

for while 1 was wrapt in admiration of the beautiful scenery that 
surrounded me, 1 neglected to watch for a minute or two our 
flock of sheep, which brother John had placed under my especial 
charge, while he attempted to kill a buck. The result was, the 
sheep, sixteen in number, were lost. Without letting the rest 
know of the matter, John and myself scoured the woods on both 
sides of the road in search of them. In my eagerness to succeed, 
I wandered too far from the road and became lost! Oh, horrible! 
The idea of being lost in that deep wilderness, full of Indians and 
wild beasts, was appalling beyond description. I could hear my 



12 

heart beat dicstlnctly, jmd felt a dimness come over my eyes, 
ehutting out every glimpse of the autumnal glories of the woods, 
which not two hours before had so enchanted me. I ran, and 
hallooed at the top of my voice till 1 was hoarse, without any 
response. None but those who have been lost themselves can 
form a correct idea of the deep, dreadful import of the word 
"Lost" — 3ven in this world. 

In a few hours 1 was found and brought back to the road, 
which looked more lovely to me than a bar of gold of the same 
width and length, though it might extend from Strawtown to the 
mouth of the Columbia river. 

We made no further search for the sheep, but left them to the 
mercy of the wolves, and pursued our journey. 

In the evening it grew cloudy and threatened rain. We struck 
camp about twulight near the road side. About eight o'clock 
the rain descended in torrents, accompanied by a heavy wind 
which roared dismally among the tree-tops, rousing us from our 
slumbers by its wild, deep meanings. 

The weather became clear during the night, and on the morning 
of the 27th a white frost lay on the logs and newly fallen leaves. 
This morning we aimed to make an early start, but another 
xmfortunate and unlocked for event threw our whole company 
into the deepest consternation. Jesse (my little brother who 
climbed the pickets at the Falls) followed Mr. Ogle and brother 
John into, the woods, when they went to bring in the oxen and 
other cattle. Upon their discovering him following them, they 
told him to go back to camp, for which he immediately started, 
but took a wrong direction. He was not missed until we were 
ready to start. Imagine the panic produced when it was known 
he was lost! Another energetic search was immediately insti- 
tuted for the lost child. The woods for miles around echoed with 
"Jesse! Jesse!" from more than half a dozen voices. He heard 
us, but supposed we were Indians, and hid in the underbrush 
until we got close to him, when he emerged, mounted on a log, 
and said: "It is quite a frosty morning" — declared he had not 
been lost; that he saw the smoke of the camp all the time, and 
heard us calling, but took us to be Indians, and was determined 
to make no noise nor let himself bo seen until he was certain wo 
were not Pottawatomies. 



CHAPTER II. 

CICERO CREEK DINNER OF VENISON AUTUMNAL MAONIFIOENCE Oi? 

THE FOREST LACK OF WATER REACHED BROWN 's WONDER 

MET LAND HUNTERS RETURNING FROM THE WABASH THEIR DE- 
SCRIPTION OF THE WEA, WILD CAT, AND SHAWNEE PRAIRIES 

CLAYROOT SPRING THORNTOWN INDIAN WIGWAMS SUGAR RIVER 

WISEHART's and KENWORTHY's SETTLEMENTS SNOW STORM 

ARRIVAL AT JOHN DEVVEY's CRAWFORDSVILLE ITS FIRST SET- 
TLERS OLD SETTLERS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY LARGE COiV- 

GRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, AND JUDICIAL CIRCUITS LAWRENCE S. 

8HULER RATLIFF BOuNE JOHN LAW AND GOV. RAY LOST OVER 

NIGHT ON THE WEA PRAIRIE THEIR SPEECHES NEXT DAY. 

After bringing the lost boy into camp, we soon started on our 
journey. About noon we reached Cicero creek, and encamped 
for dinner at an unextinguished camp lire where some persons 
had stayed the previous night. They had killed a deer, dressed 
and cooked what they needed of it, and with a commendable 
regard for the comfort of their fellow-travelers through the wildei'- 
ness, they had salted and baked one side of the ribs of the deer 
previous to leaving, and turned the other side to the fire to be 
properly cooked for the next emigrants who might (!hance to pass 
that way. Wo were the lucky ti-aveleis who found it, done 
brown; and manna and quails to the children of Israel during 
their pilgrimage through the wilderness, were not more unexpect- 
ed nor acceptable, than were these cooked venison ribs to us. 

After crossing the creek, we passed a tine looking horse lying 
dead near the roadside. Doubtless some poor traveler had to 
pack his saddle on his back for miles, or hand it over to be "toted" 
by some more lucky comrade; or, it may be, some family of 
movers here lost one of their best team horses, and were compelled 
to pursue their journey with a weakened and less efficient team. 

We drove hard to reach a stream called "Brown's Wonder" 
that night, which was the only place we could obtain water before 
we reached Clayroot spring, near Thorntown. The weather was 
clear ansi warm, and the magnilicent forest, clad in its variegated 



14 

robe of Autnmn, was beautiful and picturesque beyond descrip- 
tion. By the middle of tlie afternoon several of us began to suffer 
with thirst, occasioned either by partaking freely of the baked 
venison, or the warm weather. Search was instituted for water 
on both sides of the road, but none could be found except the 
black puddles in the horse tracks and wagon rut«. My thirst 
became so intense that I could not refrain from stooping down 
and drinking out of a horse track in the road, shutting my eyes 
lest I might see wigglers in the water. 

Failing to reach "Brown's Wonder," we camped a few miles 
east of it — suffering much through the night for want of water. 
Early on the morning of the 28th we reached that stream, and 
refreshed ourselves and team with its sparkling waters. Here we 
met four old acquaintances from White Water, on their return 
from exploring the Wabash country, with which they were highly 
pleased. They spoke in most enthusiastic terms of the Wea, 
Wild Cat, and Shawnee prairies, and declared that "the Wea 
plain was the prettiest place this side of Heaven," — a fact which, 
has never been disputed by any one who ever saw it. 

Among these men was Wright Jj , who once basely mal- 
treated me at school. A sight of my ancient enemy fanned afresh 
the smouldering embers of my wrath, and I felt like drawing him 
from his saddle and administering such a castigation as his former 
abuse of mo merited; but the fact that Wright had reformed,, 
joined church and preached sometimes, and perhaps might be a 
better man than he was a boy, so allayed my anger that 1 let him 
pass without any hostile demonstration on my part — although I 
confess I felt that J weighed something less than a ton, when I 
recollected that he once spit tobacco juice iu my eye. 

In the evening we arrived at (J lay root spring, and encamped,. 
as well pleased as were the Israelites when INIoses smote the rock 
at Horeb, and they had water in alnindance. 

The rising sun on the morning of the 29th, found us pursuing^ 
our journey. About eight o'clock A. M. we arrived at Thorn- 
town, once a large Indian and French village, which sent its 
hundreds of warriors to the battle-field. It is now deserted; or, 
rather, its inhabitants are all absent on a hunting expedition. 
Wigwams composed of poles and bark cover many acres of this 
beautiful and salubrious plain, on which Thorntown is situated. 



15 

We soon struck Sugar river, and followed the road on it» 
southern bank to a Mr. Wisehart's — the first house wo had seen 
since we left Beckworth's on White river, full forty rniles back. 
About four o'clock P. M. it turned cold and cloudy, and by the 
time we arrived at Kinworthy and Lee's neighborhood, it began 
to snow briskly. 

About dark we concluded our journey by arriving in the midst 
of a snow storm at John Dewey's, about a mile and a half east 
of Crawfordsville. 

I will now give a list of the early settlers of Crawfordsville and 
the surrounding country, made out by our journalist in the years 
1824-5, &c., making but few changes from the old manuscript 
now before me, which reads thus: 

"Crawfordsville is the only town between Terre-Haute and 
Fort Wayne. The land office is held here. Major Whitlock is 
Receiver, and Judge Dunn, Kegister. Major Ristine keeps tavern 
in a two story log house, and Jonathan Powers has a little grocery. 
There are two stores — Hmith's, near the land office, and Isaac C. 
Elston's, near the tavern. Thos. M. Curry and Magnus Holmes 
are the only physicians, and Providence M. Cuny the only law- 
yer in town. John Wilson is clerk of the court, and David 
Vance sheriff. William Nicholson cairies on a tannery and 
shoemaker shop. Scott and Mack have cabinet shops, and George 
Key bhnvs and strikes at the blacksmithiug l)usiness. 

Old man Hill has a small mill on tlic; south liank of Sugar 
river, noith of town. West of town, in the country, tluire is a 
small neighltorhood composed of the following persons and their 
families, viz: John Beard, Isaac Beeler, three of the Milleis (John, 
Isaac and George), Joseph Cox, John Killen. and John Stitt — 
who owns a little mill about two miles west of town. South- 
west of town, near the Fallen Timber, live Crane, Cowen, Scott, 
and Burbridge. East of town resides Whitlock, Baxter, McCul- 
lough, Catterlin, and John Dewey — with whom we stopped a 
few weeks on our first arrival in the country. Further east is 
Jacob Beeler, Judge Stitt — who owns a saw mill — W. P. Ilainey, 
McCafferty, widow Smith, and the Elmores. Zachariah Gapen 
has a little tan yard near Stitt's saw mill, and in the vicinity of 
Kinworthy and Lee's. On the north side of Sugar river, I know 



16 

of but Abe Miller, Henry and Robert Nicholson, Samuel Brown, 
Farlow, and Harshbarger. 

Besides those named, there are but few others living in the 
town and country. I think I am safe in saying thai half a dozen 
more families would embrace all, including hunters and trappers, 
within fifty miles around. 

At John Stitt's mill below town, on Sugar river, there is a 
fish-trap, and in one night Ave caught nine hundred fish, the first 
Spring we were in the country, most of them pike, salmon, bass, 
and perch. Some of the largt3st pike and salmon measured from 
two to four feet in length, and weighed from twelve to twenty- 
five pounds. We carried them by skiff loads and threw them 
alive into the mill pond hard by, which was fed by springs, and 
thus we had fresh fish the year round. When a customer wished 
to purchase a few fish, Stitt took him to the pond, and the fish 
were selected and the price agreed upon beiore the salmon was 
lifted from the water. 

Society is in a chaotic state, but the floating elements begin 
to indicate some definite formations. The Baptists talk of build- 
ing a small house i'or worship. The Rev. Hackaliah Vredenburg, 
of the Methodist denomination, preached here a few Sabbaths ago, 
and took incipient steps for the organization of a church, while 
the Presbyterians think strongly of building a college north-west 
of town, between Nathaniel Dunn's and the graveyard. 

To give you some idea of the sparseness of the population at 
the time at which I am writing, 1 would state that in a difficult 
case of surgery, a messenger was dispatched to Terre-Haute, one 
hundred miles distant, through a wilderness country, for Lawrence 
S. Shuler, an eminent physician then residing there. After three 
or four days' and nights' traveling, the messenger returned with 
the doctor, whom he iound in an adjoining county electioneering 
for Congress, in opposition to Ratliff Boone. After assisting 
Doctors Holmes, Curry, and Snyder in performing a critical sur- 
gical operation, he resumed his canvassing, was beaten, and died 
a few years afterward. His district extended from the Ohio river 
to Lake Michigan, but contained more Indians, wolves, and wild 
"varmints" than voters. 

The Judicial Circuits were then upon the same capacious scale, 



17 

but were like the young geutleiiiaii's whiskers, "exti'iisixcly laid 
jout, but thinly settled." 

For many years after the time above alluded t(), um- ('ireuit 
Judg'C and lawyers had lo tra\-el fr<ini Hoekville to Lajiorte on 
Iiorsebaek, ercssing swamps and nnbridged streams throiigli all 
kinds of weather, to dispense justiee to the pioneer Hoosicrs. 

Boone's next eompetitor for ( 'oiigivssioual lionors was ,Joliu 
Law. I remember hearing him and (iovernoi' .l.-miiss 15. Kay, 
then a eandidate for re-eleetioii, make s])eeehes in a little liall'- 
iiuished IVame house in ijafayctic in the Summer of iSliS. They 
botli made good speeehcs. considering their ])light at tlir time — 
having laid out on llic W'ca ])laiu the pre\ious niglil. without 
shelter or supper, and uiit getting tiicir ham, eggs and i-otfcc until 
about ten o'eloek the next day. Aftei- the speeches were over, 
which were attended by most of the settlers for twenty miles 
around, f)ur company returned to our canoe, and descended the 
Wabash to our homes. 



CHAPTER 111. 

LAND SALES AT CUAWFORDS VII-LT; VlI.LAoE CllOWDED ro OVICUELOW- 

ING SQUATTER SOVEUEIftNTY RESPECTED SPECULATORS HELD IN 

CHECK LOG-CABIX HOSPITAHTV INCIPIENT GERMS OK ARISTOC- 
RACY ACCESSIONS 'ro Till', POPULATION OF CPvAWFORDSVILLK, 

AND SURROUNDINCi ( oUNTltV I'AST-TIMP.S OF TIIi: EARLY SETTLERS 

LOG-ROLLING HOUSE- It A 1 si M ; IIUNTINO FISmXG, &C. WILD 

HOGS ON LYE CHEEK AND MILL ciiEEK GOING THIRTY MILKS 

'ro MILL — su(;ai; poii.ixcs — sinoin(; schools and wkddi\<;s. 
( 'i;awfokds\ ii.i.i;, Ind., l)ec. 24, 1H*J4. 

The land sales commenced here to-day, and the town is full of 
jsirangers. The e.isl'.M'u and southern p(u-tions of the State are 
istrongly represented, as well as (Miio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and 
Pennsylvania. 

There is but little biilding against ea(di other. The settlers, or 
'\squatters,'' as they are called by speculators, have arranged 
matters among themselves to their general satisfaction, if, upon 
comparing numliers, it aiipears that two are after the same tract 
of land, one asks the other what he will take to not bid against 



18 

him. If neither will consent to be bought off, they then retire, 
and cast lots, and the lucky one enters the tract at Congress price 

$1,25 per acre — and the other enters the second choice on his 

list. 

If a speculator makes a bid, or shows a disposition to take a 
settler's claim from him, he soon sees the white of a score of eyes 
snapping at him, and at the first opportunity he crawfishes out 
of the crowd. 

The settlers tell foreign capitalists to hold on till they enter 
the tracts of land they have settled upon, and that they may then 
pitch in — that there will be land enough — more than enough, for 

them all. 

The land is sold in tiers of townships, beginning at the south- 
ern part of the district and continuing north until all has been 
offered at public sale. Then private entries can be made at $1,25 
per acre, of any that has been thus publicly offered. This rule, 
adopted by the officers, insures great regularity in the sale; but 
it will keep many here for several days, who desire to purchase 
land in the northern portion of the district. 

A few days of public sale have sufficed to relieve hundreds of 
their cash, but they secured their land, which will serve as a basis 
for their future wealth and prosperity, if they and their families 
use proper industry and economy, sure as "time's gentle progress 
makes a calf an ox." 

Peter Weaver, Isaac Shelby, and Jehu Stanley stopped with 
us two or three nights during the sale. We were glad to see and 
entertain these old White Water neighbors, although we live in 
a cabin twelve by sixteen, and there are seven of us in the family, 
yet we made room for them, by covering the floor with beds — no 
uncommon occurrence in backwoods life. They all succeeded in 
getting the land they wanted without opposition. Weaver pur- 
chased at the lower end of the Wea prairie, Shelby west of the 
river opposite, Stanley on the north side of the Wabash, above 
the mouth of Indian creek, and my father on the north side of 
the Wea prairie. 

It is a stirring, crowding time here, truly, and men are busy 
hunting up cousins and old acquaintances whom they have not seen 
for many long years. If men have ever been to the same mill, or 
voted at the same election precinct, though at different times, it is 



19 

sufficient for them to scrape an acquaintance upon. But after all, 
there is a genuine hackwoods, log-cabin hospitality, which is free 
from the attected cant, and polished deception of conventional 
life. 

Society here at present seems almost entirely free from the 
taint of aristocracy — the only premonitory symptoms of that 
disease, most jirevalent geneially in old settled communities, were 
manifested last week, when -lohn 1. Foster bought a new pair of 
silver plated spurs, and T. N. Oatterlin was seen walking up 
Btreet with a pair of curiously embroidered gloves on his hands. 

After the public sales, the accessions to the population of 
Crawfordsville and the surrounding country were constant and 
rapid. 

Fresh arrivals of movers w^ere the constant topics of conversa- 
tion. New log cabins widened the limits of the town, and spread 
over the circumjacent country. 

The reader may be cuiious to kudw how the people spent their 
time, and what they followed for a livelihood in those early times, 
in the dense forest that surrounded ('rawfordsville. 

I will answer I'or the School Master, for 1 was there myself. 
We cleared land, rolled logs, and bnrned brush, blazed out paths 
from one neighbor's cabin to another, and from one settlement to 
another — made and used handmills and hominy mortars — hunted 
deer, turkies, otter, and raccoons — caught fish, dug ginseng, 
hunted bees, and the like, and — lived on the fat of the land. 

We read of a land of "corn and wine," and another "flowing 
with milk and honey;" but I rather think, in a temporal point of 
view, taking into the account the richness of the soil, timber, 
stone, wild game, and other advantages, that the Sugai- creek 
country would come up to, if not surpass, any of them. 

I once cut cord wood at 31-]: cents })er coi-d (and walked a mile 
and a half, night and morning), where the first frame college was 
built, near Nathaniel Dunn's, northwest of town. 

Prov. Curry, the lawyer, would sometimes come down and help 
for an hour or two at a time, by way of amusement, as there was- 
but little or no law business in the town or country at that time. 

Header, wliat would you think of going from six to eight miles 
to help roll logs, or raise a cabin? Or from ten to thirty miles 
to mill, and wait three or four days and nights for your grist? — 



20 

as many had to do in the first settlement of tliis eountiy. Such 
things were of frequent occurrence then, and tliere was but littk^ 
granililing about it. It was a grand sight to see the log heaps 
and b]'ush piles burning in the night on a clearing often or fifteen 
acres — a Democratic torch-light procession, or a midnight march 
of the Sons of Malta, with their Grand Isacusns in the centre, 
bearing the Grand Jewel of the Order, Avould be nowhere in 
comparison with the log heaps and brush piles in a blaze! 

But it may be asked, had you any social amusements, or manly 
past-times to recreate and enliven the dwellers in the wilderness? 
We had. In the social line we had our meetings and our singing 
schools, sugar boilings and weddings — which were as good as 
ever came off in any country, new or old — and if our youngsters 
did not "trip the light fantastic toe" under a professor of the 
terpsichorean art, or expert French dancing master, they had 
many a good hoe-down on puncheon floors, and Avere not annoyed 
by bad whisk}^ And as for manly sports, requiring mettle 
and muscle, there were Jots of a\ ild hogs running in the cat-tail 
swamps on Lye creek and Mill creek, and among them many 
large lioars, tliat Ossiau's lioroes, and nomei''s model soldiers, 
such us Achilles, Ib'ctnr, and .\ja\', would bave delighted to bave 
given chase to. 

The boys and men of those days had quite as much sport, and 
maib' more money ami benltli by theii- bunting excursions, than 
oil]- city gents (b> ii<i\\-a-days, jdayhig eliess by telegraph, where 
the ]ilayei-s are more tlian seventy miles apai't. 

In my next chapter I will call the attention of the reader to the 
laying-off of the town of Lafayette, the oi'gani>iation of Tippecanoe 
eountv, the establisbuKuit of tlie seat of justirc of said countv. &c. 



(•iiAr'ri;i{ iv. 



THK TOWN Ol-' I.AIAVi: III-; LAID ol)- l;^ W 11. MAM IMcm .--f Ii\ KVult 

johnson'.s i)i;st I!ii"1'J(>x of tiiic 'rniin:!!, oi:ai'i;\ im.s and hazki,- 
DRUSH wmni covioriF.i) thk town i'lat — rj!Oj;AT!ii.i'iv or a xkw 

4'OITNTY ]!K1N(; 01!(;AN]XK]3 JvOKTU OF MOXTCJOMF.liY COFKTV UIGBV 

SELLS THE MOST OF HIS TOWX TO SAMUEL SAltOEANT, UHO >ELLS 

A PART OF HIS INTEREST TO ELS'l'OX, POWERS AND AVJLSON 

TIPPECANOE COUNTY ORGANIZED IN 182G COUNTY SEAT LOCATED 

AT LAFAY'ETTE FIRST ELECTION OF COUNTY OFFICERS DEATH OF 

SARGEANT DEATH OF JUDGE WILLIAM JONES DESCRIPTION OF 

THE FIRST CABINS IN LAFAYETTE SOL. UAMER's GROCERY DIGRY 

AND AYRES' GROCEIMES SMITIl's STORE POST OFFICE, cVC. 

( 'nAAVFORPSVILLE, MilV '21, ].S2o. 

liobcrt .lolnisoii, i'!l.s(|., oui' new tavern kecpci-, lias jnst rctuinod 
from surveying a new town on the east Lank of tlie Waljasli river, 
about two miles below tlie trading house at Longlois, and three 
or four miles beloAv the mouth of Wild Cat creek. Mr. William 
Digby, the pi'oprietor, calls it Lafayette, in honor of the patriotic 
Frenehnian who periled his life and fortune for the success of the 
American arms during the Revolution. 

Those desirous of purchasing corner lots, can see a ])lat of the 
new town, by calling at our recorder's oflicc Mr. ('owley, 
recorder, or .lohn Wilson, his deputy, \vill take pleasure in .shoAv-. 
ing the map, and telling Iioav near it lies to a settlement. The 
proprietor thinks when a new county is laiil olf north of Mont- 
gomery, his toAvn will stand a good cliaiu-e of l)cco)uiiig the 
county seat. 

Ml-. Johnson says the site is eligible I'oi- a line town, altbougli 
the ground is very thickly set with bazid and jdniii brush, grape 
vines and large forest trees, which made it diflicult to survey. 

Three days after laying off his town, iJigby sold it to Samuel 
Sargeant for the sum of '$240 — reserving, however, a small fraction, 
the ferry privilege, and twenty acres north-east, adjoining the 



22 

town plat — which twenty acres he subsequently fsold to said 
Sargeant, for the sum of sixty dollars. Sargeant, who was an 
enterprising do^vn-easter, and understanding well the ways of the 
world for a young man, soon hit upon a successful plan to bring 
out his young town. As Crawfordsville was the all-absorbing 
centre of business, civilization and every kind of enterprise for 
the whole country for one hundred miles around, he thought if he 
could get a few of the prominent citizens of that town interested 
in Lafayette, it would Le more likely to come to something. He 
therefore soon struck a bargain with Isaac C. Elston, John Wil- 
son, and Jonathan W. Powers, to w^iom he sold five-eighths of 
all the odd-numhered lots, for the sum of !$130. These new lot 
holders lived at Crawfordsville, and had daily intercourse with 
travelers, fortune hunters, and fortune makers, as well as wuth 
ffohn Beard, the people's able and popular representative, who 
would of course have much to do with the laying off of the con- 
templated new county north of Montgomery, and the appointment 
of commissioners to locate the seat of justice. But with all these 
apparent advantages, Lafayette was quite languid in its infancy, 
and it often became a serious question with those most interested, 
whether it would live or die. 

More than a year after the town was laid out, while some of 
the settlers of the Wabash Avere attending court at Crawfordsville, 
a wag jeeringly enquired: "How does your new town of 'Lay- 
flat,' or 'Laugh-at,' come on? 1 have a mind to take a bacon 
rind and go up and grease the little thing, and let the next dog 
that comes along eat it." The Wabasher did not deign a reply 
to this im2)udence, but turned off with as consec|uential an air as 
if Crawfordsville was then a mere kitchen to Lafayette. 

All that wide district of land lying north of IMontgomery 
county, as far as Lake Michigan, was then called Wabash county, 
and was attached to Montgomery for judicial purposes. Those 
who had law suits, or deeds or mortgages to be recorded, were 
compelled to go to Crawfordsville to attend to such business, 
until an act of the Legislature was passed and approved January 
26, 1826, entitled "An Act for the formation of a new county 
out of the county of Wabash, and for establishing the county 
seat thereof," it was "enacted that all that part of the county of 



23 

Wabash contained in the boundaries therein specified, shall 
form and constitnte, a new county, to be known and (b'sitj^uated by 
the name of Tippecanoe." 

Elston, Wilson, Powers, and Ilichard d(dinson, as commis- 
sioner on behalf of the heirs of Samuel Sargeant (who died 
shortly after his sale to Elston and others), on the 4th of 
May, 1826, executed a title bond to the board of justices of Tip- 
canoe county, for all the even numbered lots, in a penalty of 
$10,000, to convey said lots to said board of justices, as a donation 
to said county, upon condition that the commissioners appointed 
by the Legislature to locate the county seat of Tippecanoe county, 
should locate the same peiinanently at the town of Lafayette. 

This liberal offer of these gentlemen, with an adilitional dona- 
tion or two by Reuben Kelsey, Robt. Alexander, and others, 
induced the commissioners to accept their terms, and the seat of 
justice for Tijipecanoe county was permanently located at the 
town of Lafayette. 

Soon after the organization of the county, tlie inhabitants of 
Tippecanoe, wlio were like angels visits, "few and far between," 
began to look aiound for suitable persons to fill the various county 
offices. 

The sparse settlements were confined mostly to the borders of 
tlic different prairies, and along the streams. At the first election 
held in the county, Samuel Sargeant was elected clerk, Daniel 
Bugher recorder, David F. Durkee, sheriff", John Provault and 
William Jones associate judges, the Hon. John R. Porter being 
president judge. Reuben Kelsey and John Bishoj) were elected 
justices of the peace for Fairfield township, in which T^afayette is 
situated, and Lawrence B. Stockton was appointed by the (Jircuit 
court county surveyoi-. 

Samuel Sargeant died shortly after his election, and Sam- 
uel Hoover was elected to fill his vacancy. Judge William 
Jones (father of the Hon. Mark Jones) also died soon after liis 
election, and James Wylie was elected his successor. 

If I w'as called upon by a lithographer for an original sketch 
of the town of Lafayette and its suburl)s, as it was Avhen I first 
saw it, I would in the first place draw the Wabash river, on a 
proper scale, according to Gunter, give its exact curve and 
meanderings, with a ferry Hat, skiff, canoe, two perogues, and a 



•24: 

keol lioiil, iiiooreil aloiiy its c;i,stcj-u liank, iicai- tin.' lout of Maiia 
stroet. 1 next would .sketcli tliroc or four rude ralilus, scattered 
aloiiL!;' on tlio bank of Uio liNcr, fioui Main street to tlie foot of 
Ferry street, where tlie canal paeket landing now is. One of the 
cabins would contain Smith's store and the post office — William 
Sniitli, tlu' store keepei', lieing the first post master in Lafayette; 
Mr. Smith was quite an cnteiprising, public spirited citizen, and 
on the arrival of the hrst steamboats at the Lafayette landing, 
was in the habit of saluting them with a "big gun," by boring a 
stump, charging it heavily with j^owder, and touching it off with 
a slow match, about the time the steamer was "rounding-to" to 
_land at the foot of Main street. And often, wlien trade became a 
little dull, he wouhl charge a stump and fire it off in order to 
bring in tln' country people to trade at his store. One morning 
the report of a heavy cannon was heard near the landing. The 
citizens of the village ran down to see the steamer. (>n passing 
Smith's store, they saw the proprietor lying upon his back oil 
the floor, and several shelves of broken crockei-y and a shivered 
door-facing were lying smashed up around him. They pi(dve(i 
up the [uostrate merchant, who, after he partially came to him- 
self, eu(|uii-ed : "Is Mouser sale? 1 thought 1 Avould give then\ 
a hlizzan/, but 1 guess I've got the worst of it. is ^louser sale?" 
He {\wi\. explained jnatters l)y pointing to the fragments of a 
large stump that stood not far from his store, which he said he 
charged with about a half pound of Duponfs liest poAvder, and 
touched off l)y a slow match — that he had made a sad mistake in 
putting the peg that served to plug up the auger-hole on the side 
of the stump facing liis store, and while he Avas peeping round 
the door-cheek to witness the explosion, the powder ignited, sent 
the plug against the door-facing in front of him, shivering it to 
pieces, knocking out a bjg of the house, smashing his crockery, 
and well nigh using xip tlie ])roprietor. By noon the country 
people for many miles ar<Hind llockcd in to see tlu; steamer that 
carried such heavy oi-dnance, and on learning that Mr. Smith 
was convalescent, and his cat Mouser safe, returned to their 
homes in the evening, satisHed that they were hoaxed again'. 
Another of these cabins would beL)igby's grocery; another Kelsey 
and Bishop's justice office; the other, Richard M. Johnson's hotel. 
Near th(^ bank of the liver, back of Rogers & Reynolds' present 



25 

vvaivhouso, I would di'aw ;i I'l'w lai-<;'('. Mi^-ar t ivt's, ii,Tu\viiii; uii a 
tioautilul blue grass jilat; on wliidi J would place a large liouse, 
larger tliau any of those alxive de]iicted, which 1 would mark 
•'Solomon Hamev's < iroi'ei'V," the most |iuii!ic and mosi iVcijUcnted 
place in the village. 1 would next dr;iw "(Md Sol" (uotthesuu' 
but the jolly (dd gi-ocery k('e[)ei-, ) wIkjui 1 would have staudiug 
behind the eountei', hamliug out .Mououga- l)urk(M3 whisky by the 
half pint to his numerous customeis. On the blue grass before 
the grocery door, between the sugai' trees and the ferry, 1 would 
draw a grou]) of men — soiue jiitehing (juoiis, some hojipiug ihree 
hops, others wi-estling, while otheis Avnuld be trying to get up a 
foot race. The hindmost man in all these spoits had to ])ay for 
tlie li(]^uor oi' lake a s(Uind drubbiug, wbich was lVe(|uently admin- 
istered in those days for the most tii\iai provocation. There 
were more black eyes, biulsed noses and bit hngei's in those early 
rimes, than a few. AVe had our 'I'om llycis. ^loiiisseys and 
Ueuicia Boys of those days, who, IVi'(picut ly at our musiers aud 
general elections, would give sonu' bloody deuioustratiou.s o|' iheir 
Ktrcngth and [duck. 

And if my lithographer would cry "more cojiy," I would draw 
Bcnhridge & Foster's store at tlu' loot of ilaiu street, where 
McCormick's brick warehouse is located; then I would sketch 
John iNIcCormick's little one stoiv frame store, on the coiner of 
Main and Wabash streets, where ]\lc< 'oiiiiick's large three stoiy 
brick block now stands, with the old veteian and his two sous, 
Perry and .lames, selling goods. Next, I woidd give a sketch of 
dosep)li S. Hanna's new two story frame store house across the 
street south of Mc('Ormiek's store (which stood where Hanna's 
large block now stands, on the comer occupied by d. ( '. IJansemer 
S: I'.i-o.. day Mix and others, as wholesale grocery stoics), which 
presented a tine appearnnc(\ being juainted wliite, and an upper 
door, facing east, up ^[ain slieet, being also ]>aiuted white, with 
greeu stiipes running u[) aud down, aud across it, in excellent 
taste for ihose early tinu's. Taylor & Linton's store stood on the 
south side of Main street, where the Taylor House and Artesian 
bathing buildings now stand. Kast of Mcroinii<dv's stoic, on tlie 
north side of Main street, I would sketch Ayres' giocery, in a 
little log house, situated alxnit where Taylor & (V)llier's stove 
store now stands; William Heaton's store, in a snuill frame, 



26 

which stood about where O. W. Peirce's wholesale grocery house 
is now situated; and Seneca & Cyrus Ball's store, in a small 
frame on the corner of Main and Ohio streets, lately occupied by 
Fowler & Penn. Hill & Holloway's store was kept in a little 
house which stood on the ground now occupied by Ross & 
Henderson's wholesale grocery establishment. Across Main 
street, on the corner of Main and Ohio, Robert Johnson — formerly 
of Crawfordsville, and who surveyed the original plat of Lafayette 
— kept tavern in a story and a half log house, where Taylor's 
large four story brick block now stands. He was a popular 
landlord, had a careful and amiable wife, and an interesting 
family, mostly daughters. I Avould then exhibit Daniel Bugher'8 
residence and office, a hewed log house on the corner of Columbia 
and Wabash streets, where J. Ewry & Co. now keep store, and 
ask for further time to complete my picture, which I expect to do 
in my next chapter. 



CHAPTER V. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE EARLY IMPROVEMENTS IN LAFAYETTE CONTINUED 
sample's tan yard OLD COURT HOUSE PUBLIC SQUARE COV- 
ERED WITH STUMPS A FEW STREETS AND ALLEYS CUT THROUGH 

THE UNDERBRUSH WM. S. TRIMBLE's TAN YARD FORD & WALK- 

ER's CORNER A FEW RESIDENCES ON MAIN STREET LAKE 8TANS- 

BURY EDWARDS' BRICK YARD PETERSOn's TAN YARD EXTRACT 

FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE BLACK CREEK SCHOOL MASTER MILITIA 

ELECTION IN OCTOBER, 1831 DOCTOR STONE'h SPEECH AGAINST 

THE STATE ACCEPTING THE GRANT OF LAND MADE BY CONGRESS 

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WABASH AND ERIE CANAL SCHOOL 

master's reply A VOTE TAKEN ON THE SUBJECT THE SCHOOL 

master's TEMPERANCE PLEDGE. 

In my last I left off after describing the residence and office of 
Recorder Bugher, on the corner of Columbia and Wabash streets. 
Next, 1 will draw John McCormick's small but neat residence, at 
the foot of Columbia street, near the river, where the large three 
story brick warehouse stands, occupied by J. M. Spencer. From 
thence I will take a southeast direction, drawing a cow-path, 
through the underl>rush towards Sample's tan yard, siuated over 



27 

the branch in tlic coTiutry, which is surrounded by a dense forest 
of large trees. Half way between Mc( 'orniick's residence and 
Sample's tan yard, near a point on Wabash street where Temple's 
foundry now stands, I would draw a daguerreotype likeness of 
Mariam (Granny) Neff's log cabin, with the old lady seated at 
the window, and Polly standing in the door. The streets were 
then opened in ])atches, between houses only, and the roads and 
paths were cut through the brushwood and timber that covered 
the most of the town plat, to suit the tast<' of those who opened 
these original avenues through the brush. 

My pen shall next sketch Samuel Hoover's one story frame 
dwelling, in which he also held the clerk's office, on Main street, 
north of the centre of the public scjuare, where he ufterwarda 
erected his two-story brick block, now occupied with stores and 
offices. 

Next, I would draw the first story of the old brick court house, 
which stood wheie the present court house now stands, surround- 
ed by a cluster of large stumps — for the public square was 
originally covered with large trees. I would draw the scaffolding 
still standing, and Major Ferguson and his w'orkmen laying 
brick; while in the back-ground 1 would draw Tommy Collins, 
a jovial old Jrishmau, gruld)ing up a large stump on the public 
square, where the first jail stood, near the spot occupied by the 
old market house. 

South of the public square, near the spot where the Courier 
printing establishment now stands, I would draw William S. 
Trimble's tan yard, with the proprietor drawing hides out of a 
vat with a long pole, wath a crooked horn on the end of it. 

On the southwest comer of the square, on the corner of Colum- 
bia and Ohio streets, generally called "Ford & Walker's corner," 
1 would place Josepli H. Martin's little frame store house, with 
Jacob Walker and Andrew Kennedy standing behind the counter 
as clerks. 

On the south side of Main street, a few doors east of the square, 
where the Odd Fellows' new and splendid hall has been recently- 
erected, 1 would place Dr. James Davis' residence and office. 
Next door east was John &, Albert Baitholomew's store, in a 
little one story frame house. P^urther u}) Main street, Matthias 
S. Scudder lived, in a low one story frame house, and carried on 



28 

tlic eal)inet-inakiii.t;' Imsiness on the same lot wliere his hirge 
liriek lilock now stands, ujiposite Lahr's liotel. About a hnnclred 
yards north of Scnihh^r's, almost hid amidst the hazel and plum 
brush, stooil Jesse Stansbury's log cabin, on the lot where Thos. 
S. (!ox's dwelling is sitnat(Ml. Near this cabin, on the east and 
south, was a large pond, covering, in a wet season, several acres 
of ground. (ji>on this pond, which bore the euphonious name of 
"Lake Htansbur)'," 1 would draw a squad of juveniles skating 
upon the ice. as T have often seen them, some with skates, somo 
with shoes, and some bare-footed. 

Isaac Edwards and family resided in a cabin on the hill, on 
the ground where the White House now stands, on the corner of 
(/olumhia and Missouii streets; and his hrick yard lay east, over 
the hog, Avhere John \j. Eejaiolds has since built his beautiful 
frame palace, with its excpaisite arbors and surroundings. 

And, to complete the diagram, I would draw ^latthias Peter- 
son's tan yard, which lay back under the hill, about where Wm. 
Porter and B. Hait's residences stand, south and adjoining the 
]>roperty on Avhich Jam(>s Spears' splendid I'esidence is situated. 
( )ld settlers ! t iinsc of you who lived here as far back as 1826-7, 
unroll the map of youi- memories, and say whether mj' picture is 
not in tlie main coiiect. 1 believe it will compare \\'ith the 
diagram imprinted on your memories long time ago. 

I must now leave Lafayette, and give a brief descrijit ion of the 
surrounding country and its inhabitants. 1 then will attend to 
events which (ranspired in thefirst settlement of Fountain county; ' 
then return through A\^)rren county, giving a daguerreotype of 
old settlers and oM tim(\s in Wan-en; and from thence to Lafay- 
ette again, and take a second view of Lafayette, in which will 
appear a brief allusion to the first Methodist quarterly meeting 
held at Lafayette, at which the renowned and eloquent John 
Strange officiated as presiding elder; the Black Hawk war; Avith 
a notice of a few ti-ips up the Wabash river on steam1)oats, (fee. 
As it will take some time to look over the notes and memoran- 
dums of the journalist, and arrange the names of the settlers in 
tbcii- proper neighborhoods, according to piiority of settlement, 
<ki'., 1 propose to furnish lh(> reader, by way of episode, the fol- 
lowing extract from the "Jouinal of the Black Creek School 
Master," which reads as f(dloAvs : 



21.> 
Di.A( K CitKKK, (»cl. ]s, Ls;Jl. 

"Xo seliool to-da\', .so I will go (u the militia election, and 
support William S ior captain, and <iabiiel J> for lieu- 
tenant. Election organized at 10 o'clock A. M. undei- a slicd 
tuljoining Edward Barkley's house, — aliout fifteen \oters present 
at the time of tlie organization. Aliont l*t4- o'clock four more 
voters arrived, and a tin cup of whisky was passed around. 
Being somewhat chilly sitting under the shed. 1 took a, tolerable 
deep u/j} of it. Eleven o'clock the tin cu[i -was passed around 
the second time. I touched lightly, lest 1 might make hlunder,- 
in clerking. Felt \aliant — sorry I had jx'remptorily declined 
running for captain. Noon — about thiity voters [ircsent. A 
two gallon jug and a bucket of watei' ]iussed around -with flic tin 
cup. 

A warm discussion now sprang up tlirongh (lie crowd. Ques- 
tion: "Should the State of Indiana acce}»f the grant of land 
donated by Congress for the construction of the Wabash and 
Erie canal, from ]jake l^rie to the mouth of Ti})pecanoe river?" 
Doctor Stone was flu; most noisy against accepting the giant; his 
friends called him out in a speech of about twenty minutes; he 
spoke vehemently against the measure, aiel challenged opposition. 
The friends of the canal lo(d<ed aliout for some one to reply. The 
"young school master" was chosen fur that purpose. The elec- 
tion was adjourned lo give me ;i chance to sjieak. Sorry they 
calleii npoii mc, ftn- I felt ahoul '-half seas over" fi'om the free 
and frc(|ucnt nsc of the tin cuii. i was puzzled to know what to 
do. To decline would iiijni-c me in the estimation of tlie neigh- 
l)orhood, who were genei-ally strongly in favor of the giard; and, 
on the other hand, il' I .-itfempteil to speak, and failed from intox- 
ication, it would ruin nie with my patrons. Soon a fence rail 
was sli[)ped into the woiui lence which stood neai- by, and a wash 
tub turned b(4tom upwanls was placed upon it and the neigh- 
boring rails, aiiout Hve feet from the ground, as a rostrum for me 
to s})eak from. Two or three men seized hold of me and placed 
me upon the stand, amidst the vociferous shouts of the friends ot 
the eanal, which were none the less loiul on account of the fre- 
quent circulation of the tin and jug. 

I could scarcely preserve my equilibrium, but there I was on 



30 

the stand (tub) for the purpose of answering and exposing the 
doctor's sophistries, and an anxious auditory waiting for mo to 
exterminate him. But, strange to say, my lips refused utterance. 
I saw "men as it were trees walking," and after a long and, to 
me, painful pause, I smote my hand upon my breast, and said, 
"I feel too full for utterance." (I meant of whisky — they 
thought of righteous indignation at the doctor's effrontery in 
opposing the measure under consideration.) The ruse worked 
like a charm — the crowd shouted, "let him have it." I raised 
my finger and pointed a moment steadily at the doctor. The 
audience shouted, "hit him again." Thus encouraged, I com- 
menced the first stump speech I ever attempted to make; and, 
after I got my mouth to go off (and a jiart of the whisky, in 
perspiration), I had no trouble whatever, and the liquor dispelled 
a native timidity that otherwise, perhaps, might have embarrassed 
me. I occupied the tub about twenty-five minutes. The doctor, 
boiling over with indignation and a speech, mounted the tub and 
harangued us for at least thirty minutes. The "young school 
master" was again called for, and another speech from him, of 
about twenty minutes, closed the debate. A viva voce vote of the 
company was taken, which resulted in twenty-six for accepting 
the canal grant, and four against it. My two friends Avcre elected 
captain and lieutenant, and I am back at my boarding house, 
ready for supper, Avith a slight headache. Strange none of them 
discovered I was intoxicated. lAicky for me they did not, or I 
would doubtless lose my school. 1 now here promise myself, on 
this leaf of my day-book, that / will not drink liquor ayain, except 
given as a ynediccd prescription." 

Tradition says the young Black creek school master stuck to his 
pledge, and that many years after he made that entry in his day- 
book, he was often seen passing up and down on the packets that 
ran upon the Wabash and Erie canal, lecturing upon temperance, 
and cordially shaking hands with the old settlers, whom he found 
sprinkled along from Vincennos to Fort Wayne. 



CHAPTEE VI. 



KAMK8 AND LOCALITIES OF MANY OF THE FIKST SETTLERS OF TIPPE- 
CANOE COUNTY THE THINLY SETTLED NEIGHBORHOODS PETER 

WEAVER HIS SUCCESS AS A HUNTER, TRAPPER, &C. IIIS HOSPI- 
TALITY LAND HUNTERS, TRAPPERS, AND INDIAN TRADERS TWO 

NEGRO BOYS THEIR NARROW ESCAPE FROM BEING KIDNAPPED 

WEST POINT PINHOOK HIGH GAP NEIGHBORHOOD INDIAN TOWN 

ON NORTH SIDE OF WEA PLAIN KNIVES, TOMAHAWKS, GUN BARRELS, 

BEADS, AND OTHER RELICS FOUND IN LARGE QUANTITIES IN 1827— 

28 MILITIA MUSTER CAPTAIN W.'s ENERGETIC SPECIMEN OF 

DRILLING HIS COMPANY. 

To give a full list of tlie old settlers of Tippecanoe county, in 
chronological order, would require more time, research and space 
than this brief sketch will allow. We propose to mention the 
names and localities of a few of the prominent inhahitants of the 
several neighborhoods, or settlements, as those neighborhoods 
existed shortly after the organization of the county. Many persons, 
equally as ancient in point of settlement, and as worthy a place 
in these sketches as those whose names we chronicle, must 
necessarily, according to the plan we have adopted, be omitted. 

For the sake of system we will divide the county into four parts, 
thus: by running a line from Lafayette south, along the old 
Crawfordsville road, to the Montgomery county line, and will 
call the portion lying west of said line, and south of the Wabash 
river, division No. 1; that part of the county lying west of the 
Wabash river. No. 2; that part lying between the Crawfordsville 
road and the Lafayette and Indianapolis State road, No. 8; and 
the remaining portion, lying between the Lafayette and Indian- 
apolis road, aforesaid, and Carroll county, as the line now runs. 
No. 4. 

The residence of Peter Weaver, at the lower end of the Wea 
plain, shall be the beginning point. That worthy old pioneer 
was as extensively and as favorably known to the early inhabi- 



32 

tiiulfs as any man on tlie upper Wabasli. He killed more deer, 
wolves and rattlesnakes; caught more fisli, found more bee trees, 
and entertained in a hospitable manner more land hunters, trap- 
pers and traders, than any other private citizen between Vincennes 
and the mouth of the Salimou}'. He is still living, in Missouri, 
near Keokuk, Iowa, and, although he is near one hundred years 
old, he still delights to hunt, fish and trap — with a success tliat 
astonishes the later generations of his sons and grandsons. 

When he moved from the eastern portion of Indiana to the 
Wabash, he brought with him two small negro boys, named Ben 
and Ran, A\hom he had talcen to raise — children of a negro woman 
who had been brouglit as a slave from Xorth Carolina into Indiana, 
territory, and afterwardN lierani;' free by the adoption of the 
constitution i»f the State. 

Slavery, even at that early day, showed symptoms of its irre- 
pressible tendency, by unblushingly invading free territory, and 
putting the people to the trouble of killing it twice before it would 
acknowledge that it was dead. 

In the Spring of 182:'], while Ben and liau were at work in a 
coin field at the lower end of the Wea plain, Mr. Weaver's family 
was startled by their cries as they made for the house, at full 
speed, yelling as they ran. Supposing that one of them had 
been bitten by a snake, a portion of the family made haste to 
meet them, enquiring "What's the matter? What's the matter?" 
They said that two men had attempted to capture them — that one 
of the men first tried to decoy them over the fence into the brush, 
to show them the road to a neighbor's house, but that before 
thev arrived at the fence, the sight of the other man on the outside 
of the field, and the manner of their interlocutor, excited their 
suspicions, and caused them to turn and fly to the house. Such 
II bold attempt to kidnap the little negroes, aroused the honest 
indignation of the old s(ddiei-. who had marched under Washing- 
ton, and he immediately re})aired, ^\■ith his son Patrick Henry, 
to the back of the field, armed in backwoods style, to reconnoitre, 
and, if possible, to arrest and bring to justice those who had 
made so flagrant an atteni])! upon tlie liberty of the unoffending- 
hoys, who were free born, and over whon^ he was determined the 
lash of the slave-diiver should lU'ver fall, if he could pi-event it. 



33 

Their rcconnoisancc convinced them that tlie fears of t}ic little 
negroes were well founded. Signs of two men and their horses 
were quite plain, and portions of the ropes with which they had 
intended to have tied their captives, were dropped in their hasty 
flight; besides the neighbors had seen two suspicious looking 
men, answering the description of those seen by the boys, skulk- 
ing through the woods near "Weaver's field for several days 
previous. 

Suspicion at once attached to an old acquaintance remaining 
on "White Water, who at one lime had an indirect claim upon 
the mother of the negro boys; and who, it was suspected, was 
concerned in spiriting away Jefferson Croker, a free negro man, 
whom the law had manumitted, hut from his mysterious disap- 
pearance from the White Water country, it was supposed he was 
drawn back into slavery by the surreptitious hand of the kidnap- 
per, when the greater portion of the freight and business of the 
Under-Cxround railroail ran the other way. 

"Jeff." as he was generally called, was a tall, well-made negro 
man, but not very lemarkable for his intelligence. He generally 
made his home with Col. David Kennedy. One day when the 
Colonel and his family were from home, Jeff, took it into his 
head that he would like to see how he would look dressed in the 
Colonel's military uniform. So he went to the chest, took out 
the full suit, from the boots to the tall red and white plume that 
nodded in the cocked hat, and put them on himself, sash, sword, 
and all, and commenced promenading back and forth over the 
floor, contemplating himself before a largo mirror, admiring his 
greatly improved appearance, and the figure he cut in a military 
suit. At times he would draw the sword out of its scabbard, 
and give the word of command with a truly Napoleonic air, 
soliloquizing as he strutted pompously across the parlor as 
though it was a very Campus Martins. Col. Kennedy had 
approached the house unobserved by the military darkie, whose 
manoeuvres he narrowly watched through a window. Without 
fiaying a Avord, he suddenly opened the door and stepped into the 
parlor, exclaiming, "What are you doing, you black rascal, with 
my suit on you?" The ebony gentleman for the instant stood in 
fiilent dread — then lifting up both hands towards the Colonel, 



u 

imploringly said: '-'ISeusc uie, ^iassa Davy — 'sense me — / 
didn't go to do it/" 

Near Wea\«er lived Lewis Thomas, John McFarland, John 
(Joran, Tinman Rollins, Daniel Currcn, Schoonovors, Huff, and 
old man Haines. They all OAvned or worked land on the lower 
end of the beautiful and fertile Wea plain — which for many 
vears was regarded as the Egypt to which the people came to buy 
corn for fifty miles around. South-west of this neighborhood, 
near Clark's Point (now I'inhook), resided Samuel 0. Clark, 
Peter Christman, Nimrod and Vvilliam Taylor, Vanzandt and 
Abraham Morgan, John Kennedy, John W. Odell, Samuel Ean- 
kin, John Dutton, John W. and Simon Crouse, xVbraham Evans, 
and others, in a rich, fertile, and now well-improved portion of 
the county. Further east and north, near Middleton (now West 
Point), was the Risers, Hollingsworths, Huffs, Ewrys, Ellises^ 
and others. The High Gap neighborhood consisted of William 
Dimmitt, John Eradfield, Moses Hockett, James P. Ellis, Dr. 
Durkee, Andrew Hoover, Sherrys, Eli Patty, and Paul and John 
Sheridan. On the Little Wea were the Croses, V\'illies, W^ylies, 
Crouches, Brunsons, Judge Allen, Foxes, Thomas Smiley^ and 
the Seymours. At the upper end of the Wea plain resided James 
and Joseph Hawkins, Baker Guest, John Provault, Wm. Jones, 
Joseph Fell, Wm. West, Peter Hughes, John Bear, Jno. Magill, 
Isaac Galbraith and Robert Sterrett. On the north side of the 
Wea plain lived Adam Kinser, Joseph Cox and Abel Janney; 
and below the town of Lafayette lived D. F. Durkee, Newberry 
Stockton, Edward McLaughlin, and Joseph Travis. 

On the north side of the Wea plain there was a large Indian 
and French town, which extended from the head of the bluft" 
below the mouth of the Wea, to where the town of Granville now 
stands. I heard my grandfather, who was with General Clarke 
when he destroyed this town in the year 1791, say, that thera 
were at the time it was sacked, about forty shingle roof houses, 
occupied by French traders and mechanics, besides tents and 
wigwams in great numbers, which covered the ground for several 
miles along the prairie, on the south bank of the Wabash river. 
My father's farm was on the ground once covered with this In- 
dian town. 2 In the Fall, after the giass was burnt on the prairie, 
the boys '^of the neighborhood used to amuse themselves with 



:55 

hunting ujj tlie blades of butchci- 1; '.lives, loinahiuvks, brass ket- 
tles, gun barrels, &c., and the little girls in picking up beads, 
which in many places were strewn over the face of the ground, 
and had been washed by the rains into gulches along the hillside. 
I remember that one day my little sister and a neighboi- girl came 
running into the cabin, exclaiming, "Js not 1 his a lich country, 
when even the grass and weeds bear beads?" lilach of them liad 
a tuft of grass in their hands, on the spires of which beads were 
glittering, which no doubt once graced the neck of some Indian 
queen, or some of her maids of honor. It a])peared that the 
blades of grass in growing had shot up through the eye of the 
beads, and lifted them higher and higher, in proportion to the 
strength and size of Ihe weed or grass blades which protruded 
through the beads. ] have myself found as high as six or eight 
Indian knives in an hour's search, soon after Ave moved on the 
farm. After the rust was taken off, these knives proved to be of 
excellent metal, and had not lost their tcuiper, notwithstanding 
their long exposure to the piairie fires and the weather. 

We will conclude our remarks on division Xo. 1, after alluding 
to the manner of conducting a militia muster, held by Capt. P. 
H, W., on the .south side of Wea prairie, in early times. The 
captain was a stout built, muscular man, an Iio stood six feet four 
in his boots, and weighed over two hundred pounds. When 
dressed in his uniform — a blue hunting shirt, fastened with a 
wide red sash, with epaulettes on each .-shoulder, his laige sword 
iastciied by his thigh, and tall plume waviug in the wind — he 
looked like another AVilliam Wallace, or Roderick Dhu, un- 
sheathing his claymoie in defence of his country. His companj'^ 
consisted of about seventy men, who had reluctantly turned out 
to muster, to avoid paying a fine, some witli guns, some with 
sticks, and otheis carrying corn stalks. The captain, who had 
been but recently elected, understood his business better than his 
men supposed he did. He intended to give them a thorough 
drilling, and show ihcm that he understood the manu;uvres of the 
military art as well as he did fanuing and foxhunting — the latter 
of which was one of his favorite amusements. After foiniing a 
hollow square, marching and countermarching, and putting them 
through severai other evolutions, according to Scott's tactics, he 
commanded his men to "form a line." They partially complied, 



36 

but the line was crooked. Ho took his sword and passed italong 
in front of his men, straightening the line. By the time he passed 
from one end of the lino to the other, on casting his eye back ho 
discovered the line presented a zig-zag and unmilitary appear- 
ance — some of the men were leaning on their guns, some on their 
sticks, a yard in advance of the line, and others as far in the rear. 
The captain's dander rose. He threw his cocked hat, feather and 
all, on the ground, took off his red sash and hunting shirt, and' 
threw them with his sword upon his hat. He then rolled up his 
sleeves, and shouted with the voice of a stentor: *' Gentlemen! 
form a line, and keep it, or I will thrash the whole compamj!" In- 
stantly the whole line was as straight as an arrow. The captain 
was satisfied, put on his clothes again, and never had any more 
trouble in drilling his company. 



CHAPTER VII. 



LAGRANGE AND ITS PROPRIETOR KEEL BOATS AND PEROGUES 

BTAPLES OK WESTERN COMMERCE, BEESWAX, FEATHERS, FUR-SKINS, 
WHISKY AND FEVER AND AGUE MEDICINES Il-.DIAN CREEK SETTLE- 
MENT — Burnett's creek — large quantities of wild game — 

cincinnatus its decline and death knight, cuppy, and 

Sunderland's neighborhood — settlement on the grand prai- 
rie STROLL BY MOONLIGHT INDIAN CREEK HILLS VIEW OF THB 

WABASH RIVER AND WEA PLAIN BY MOONLIGHT ENCHANTINa 

SCENERY, AND DELIGHTFUL ECHOES FLOATING OVER PLAIN AND 

VALLEY, AND REVERBERATING AMONG THE HILLS BARKING OP A 

FOX WILD HOGS THEIR FURIOUS ATTACK RENCOUNTRE WITH 

THE HOGS EXCESSIVE ALARM, AND IMMINENT pfilRIL DELIVER- 
ANCE. 

In October, 1827, Isaac Shelby, a distant relative of Governor 
Shelby, of Kentucky, laid out the town of Lagrange, on the lower 
line of Tippecanoe county, on the west side of the Wabash river. 
I;i giving a list of the old settlers in division No. 2 of Tippecanoe 
county, as made in my last, I will begin at Lagrange. When 
this town was first laid off, its proprietor considered it a hopeful 
rival of Lafayette, Attica, Covington, and other river towns. At 



37 

first it gave fine promise of becoming a place of considerable 
business, and for several years kept pace with the other villages 
along the river. Owners and masters of keel boats and perogues, 
in ascending and descending the Wabash, invariably made it a 
point to stop at Lagrange, and exchange bacon, salt, flour, and 
fever and ague medicines, for beeswax, feathers, fur-skins, and 
whisky, in which articles the proprietor kept up a pretty active 
trade. 

At this place there was a bloody affray between a farmer by 
the name of Ensley, and a boatman named Scott, under tho 
following circumstances: Scott and a friend of his were ascend- 
ing the Wabash in a perogue, heavily laden with flour, bacon, 
wliisky, &c. Ensley, who was at Cicot's trading house, about 
Bix miles below Lagrange, asked Scott if he might ride in his 
perogue to Lagrange. This request was readily granted, and the 
three soon pushed off their little craft, and commenced ascending 
the river. Before reaching Lagrange there were some unpleasant 
feelings excited between Scott and Ensley, in regard to the man- 
agement of the craft; but on an appeal to the jug, all differences 
were buried, and they were good friends again. After landing 
at Lagrange, Scott wished to cross over to the cast side of the 
Wabash, and asked his new acquaintance if he would not ferry 
him over the river in Shelby's canoe, which was lying at tho 
landing. Ensley readily assented, and the two started to cross 
the river. Li aboxat fifteen minutes Scott returned, and with 
much agitation, said: "Shelby, I have killed that man who ferried 
mo over the river!" "Lnpossible! How did it happen?" en- 
quired Shelby. Scott replied: "After he landed me on the other 
bank of the river, I started for Weaver's, and had not proceeded 
over twenty rods through the grass and willow bushes, before I 
was felled to the ground by a club. On looking up, I discovered 
that it was Ensley who had struck me, and 1 instantly drew a 
dirk and ran after him, as he made for the canoe at full speed. I 
overtook him before he reached the river, and stabbed him several 
times in the back, until he fell upon his face in the sand, where 
he still lies — dead enough!" Shelby said: "Let us go over and 
Bcc — perhaps he is not yet dead — and you had better get him to 
admit how the fracas occurred before he dies, and relieve yourself 
from the grave charge of murder; which, in llie absence of further 



38 

evidence, miglit be fastened upon you." Jn a few minutes Shelby, 
Scott and Ins friend landed on the east bank of the river, and 
Shelby ran u}) to Ensley, who was lying upon his face, and 
eagerly enquired the number and extent of his wounds. "They 
areTatal! fatal!" responded the prostrate man. "How did it 
occur?" inquired Shelby. "Ensley, tell how it took place — tell 
the truth; if the man is most in the fault, say so; if you were the 
first to strike, say so — that justice may be done the man when 
you arc gone, provided your wounds prove mortal." "He has 
killed me! he has killed me!" was all they could induce him to say. 
Scott, who had stood some rods distant from the prostrate man, 
while Shelby was examining his Avounds, and interrogating him 
as to the manner of the fight — now spoke out and said: "You 
struck me first, without cause, and without my knowing you 
were near me, and you felled me to the ground with a club. I 
rose and pursued you with a knife, and struck you several blows 
in the back, of which you may die; but I done it in self-defence, 
to save my own life." Here Shelby again interposed, and told 
the parties to make friends and forgive each other, before Ens ley 
entered another world. The wounded man finally relented, and 
said: "Scott, come here, and let us shake hands and forgive one 
another;" [but when Scott had approached within a few yards, 
Ensley raised up his head, and motioned with his right hand for 
him to come no nearer, saying, "Depart ye cursed, I know ye not." 
At this Scott broke off the parley, and despatched a messenger 
with all possible haste for Dr. Harry L. Doubleday, who soon 
canie,^'examined and dressed Ensley's wounds, which he pro- 
nounced to be extremely dangerous, directing that he should be 
carried home, or to Shelby's, and that he should abstain entirely 
from the use of spiritous liquors, which, if indulged in, might 
bring on inflammation and prevent his wounds from healing. 
Ensley was of a different opinion himself — he thought there were 
no hopes of his recovery, and said that he hoped his friends would 
allow him to enjoy the few hours remaining to him on earth in 
the best manner he could; and as whisky was his greatest solace, 
he hoped they would send off for a gallon, and let him drink of 
it freely, as he could not bear to be moved from the spot where 
he lay, and could not live longer than morning at farthest. His 
friends reluctantly yielded to his Avishes, sent for the whisky, and 



ituilt a iire near him on the smul to raise a sinokc to keep off the 
-musqiiitoes. Next morning tlie bucket of whisk}' was well nigh 
ilraiueJ, and he consented to be carried to his liouse. In a iew 
Aveeks he recovered from his wounds so as to be alile to wailc 
about, and in a few months he was sound and well. On meeting 
Dr. Simon Yandes, th(> doctor said: "Ensley, you are surely 
knife-proof. That time your liowels were let out by the young 
jQian you bursted the watei-melon over his head in l^nion county, 
J supposed that you could not possibly recover." Knsley waived 
tlie subject by drily remarking: "I'm tough, doctor; J'm tougli." 
A pok^mic society was organized in this town, wliitdi was 
strongly attended by debaters from Weaver's neighborhood cast 
of the river, Judge Bamuel B. Clark's ncighborliood on the river 
below, and the Mace, Davis and Fenton neighborhood, in NVarren 
county. xVt one time there appeared to be a strong probability 
•of a lyceum and academy being established there. But a few 
cabins and small frame houses, soon lu'ought tliis village to its 
culminating point, and it was in a few years entirely wiped out 
— ami, like ancient Greece and iiome, it lives only in history and 
story. 

There were in that neigliborhood, besides Shelby's faniil}'-, 
Jesse Douthit, Harvey H. Lyons, Noah Griggs, h. S. Wo»^tgate, 
Wni. Williams, Daniel Gooden and Immcl. 

Near the mouth of Indian creek was Elijah Godfrey, John 
Buck, William Payne, Alex. Croy, ^Michael Jones, lioxley and 
Jehu Stanley. Near Slim prairie was Enos Moore, Aaron Daw- 
ley, Fosters, (Joon, Nagle and Burns.^ Northwest, on the edge 
of the (Jrand prairie, and in the timber lived Vannata, Eastburn, 
Shambaugii'^, Eliconhonce, McCray, Gates, Bildcrbacks, Bocks, 
dourdans, Bicrccs, Jennings, Kellogg, Rawlcs, and others. 

North of this settlement, on the head waters of Burnett's creek, 
, was another neighborhood, composed of several families, viz: 
John Clark, Elisha G. Layne, Jourdan Knight, Charles II. Mar- 
steller, Jones Henderson, William Sims, Thomas Connelly, 
Newberry Stockton, dr., Daniel Stockton, David Jones, John 
Barnard, James Griffith, and Lysmund Basye. 

This locality was long famous for large quantities of wild game. 
Many an extensi\e deer hunt ajid wolf hunt has come off along 



40 

the 'border of the Grand prairie, antl in the timber about the 
head of Burnett's creek. 

Two or three miles east of the mouth of Indian creek was 
another neighborhood, consisting of James Bedwell, Robert 
Williams, Thomas W. Trekell, William, Eenjamin and Samuel 
Knight, Francis Sunderland, Cuppy, Starret, Suits, James 
Emerson, H. Oilar, Laytons, Russells, Samuel Bringham, Peter 
Caster, John Downey, Benjamin Crist, and others. 

In this vicinity, on the Wabash river, opposite the mouth of 
Wea creek, IX Patton, and othei'S, at an early day, laid off the 
town of Cincinnatus, which entered the list of rival river towns, 
with a spirit that, for awhile, promised a prosperous future. But 
its race was not so long or glorious as that of Lagrange; and 
there remains not a vestige to mark tlie place where the town of 

Cincinnatus stood. 

A few miles below this defunct village I had an adventure 
many years ago, the recollection of which still chills my 
blood with horror. An account of that truly fearful adventure, I 
will now relate: 

On a balmy evening in Juno, 1835, I strolled from the cabin 
of my brother-in-law, where I Avas stopping for the night, to 
enjoy a quiet moonlight ramble through the verdant valley that 
surrounded his humble mansion, which stood about midway 
between the Wabash river and the Indian creek hills, which lifted 
their elevated heads several hundred feet above the bottom lands 
beneath. With difficulty I climbed to the top of one of the peaks 
of this romantic range of hills. The scene which surrounded mo 
was sublime and picturesque beyond description. Before me, iu 
the distance, lay the Wabash river, rolling its silver current 
along the northern edge of the Wea plain, which was besprinkled 
with garlands of wild flowers of every rich and variegated tint. 
Hawthorn and wild plum bushes, overspread with wild honey- 
suckle and grapevine arbors grew in clusters along the river 
banks, as if in love with its placid, laughing waters, that flashed 
and flamed in the soft moonlight. I stood spell-bound, gazing 
upon the lovely prospect, and listening to the many voices that 
came floating over the prairie and river for miles distant, then 
reverberating and dying away in echoes amidst the surrounding 
hills. The talk and laughter of children, blating of sheep, bark- 



41 

ing of dogs, and gabbling of geose, for three or four miles off, 
came echoing around me with a clear, distinct and witching 
cadence. While thus enchanted with the lovely scenery which 
surrounded me, and just as I repeated in an audible voice, 

"If there is an Klysium on earth, 
IJ is this — it is this," 

a fox dai'ted tlirough the thicket, down a dark ravine, barking as 
it went. In a few moments back it came at full speed, and 
passed over the hill near where 1 stood. I heard a confused 
cracking of bushes, rattling of stones, and gnashing of teeth, 
with a loud boo-boo-oh, from the ravine the fox had just left. 
Instantly I felt the peril of my position — my hair stood on end, 
as the fearful truth flashed upon my mind that the fox had started 
up a gang of wild hogs. I lan a few yards and sprang upon 
a large log, which at first seemed to promise me safety, but which 
I soon abandoned when I discovered that I could be approached 
from the upper side of the hill, where the log rose but a few feet 
from the ground. I sprang off' and rari foi- an oak tree that stood 
on the very summit of the hill, gathering from the ground, as I 
ran, a .sugar tree limb as thick as my arm, and about eight feet 
long. On reaching the tree I found I could not climb it. lu- 
Btantly I threw my back against the trunk of the tree, and faced 
my dreadful adversaries, which by this time were close upon me. 
I waved my club, and yelled and screamed through very fright. 
They made a furious onslaught — my waving bludgeon and vio- 
lent gestures repelled them; they renewed the attack again and 
again — my whirling, well-aimed club beat back the foremost. A 
panorama of terrors passed through my mind, but Harpies, 
Furies, and the Gorgon terrors of the fabled Medusa's head, 
encircled with hissing snakes, would be desirable, compared with 
the horrible thought of being devoured alive by a gang of furious 
wild hogs, that would, probably, in a few seconds, rend me into 
ft thousand pieces, crush every bone, and consume every vestige 
of my mutilated body, and every shred of my garments, so that nono 
would ever know when or how I left the world. A superhuman 
fitrength seemed to nerve my arm as I plied my bludgeon, and 
yelled and hallooed at the top of my voice, which echoed wildly 
among the surrounding hills. During a slight pause in tho 
combat, I heard my brothcr-in-Iaw's voice, as he ran to the rescue. 



42 

crying, "What's the matter? — what's the matter?" By the time 
he reached the foot of the hill, my bristly adversaries, hearing 
his voice in their rear, showed signs of retreating; but one old 
sow, who appeared to be leader of the gang, and had in her sev- 
eral of the devils or evil spirits that entered into her ancestors in 
the time of our Savior, was for keeping up the siege, which she 
Actually did, xmtil my brother-in-law got within a few rods with 
his gun, when she turned her head to one side, listened, heard his 
foot-falls as he ascended the hill, then raised her head, snorted a 
retreat, and, with her devil-possessed comrades, darted off down 
the dark ravine, and I felt as if an Andes had been lifted from 
my breast. 



CHAPTER Vlll. 



KAMES AND RESIDENCES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF TIPPECANOE 

COUNTY CONTINUED PRETTY PRAIRIE PROPHET's TOWN BATTLE 

OF TIPPECANOE MANNER OF ATTACK DESPERATE VALOR OF TIIR 

INDIANS INDIANS REPULSED ABOUT DAYLIGHT COLONEL DAVIESS, 

SPENCER, AND OTHER AMERICAN OFFICERS KILLED NUMBER OF 

KILLED AND WOUNDED ENEMIES DISINTER THE BODIES OF OUR 

SOLDIERS THEIR BONES COLLECTED AND BURIED AGAIN IN 1830 

HANNEGAn's SPEECH ON THE OCCASION^GEN. TIPTON's DONATION 

OP THIRTEEN ACRES OF GROUND WHERE THE MAIN PART OF THE 

BATTLE WAS FOUGHT ENCLOSURE AROUND THE BATTLEGROUND 

CONTEMPLATED MONUMENT ROMNEY, AND ITS VICINITY CLEVE- 
LAND, MONROE, FAIRFIELD, AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AMERICUS 

LAID OFF HIGH PRICES OF LOTS AT THE FIRST PUBLIC SALE 

PIONEER settlers' OPINIONS IN REGARD TO THE FUTURE DEVELOP- 
MENTS OF THIS COUNTRY. 

South of Tippecanoe river, on the borders of Pretty prairie, 
there was a settlement in early times, composed of the following 
families, viz: William Kendall, Moses Rush, Moots, Philip 
Runnels, Becker, Marquis and Samuel Starret. Further south, 
between Pretty prairie and Prophet's town, lived James Shaw, 
John Burget, Peleg Babcock, John Shaw, John Roberts, John 
S. Forgey, Thomas Watson, and Flemings. North of these 



43 

tliiiily settled iieighborliooils, there was a wide., unbroken wilder- 
ness — 

"Where nothing dwelt hut beasts of prey, 
Or men as fierce and wild aa thej." 

It would bo a cnlpablc omission on my part to leave this local- 
ity witliout alluding to the battle of Tippecanoe, which was 
fought on the morning of the 7tli of November, 1811, betAveen 
Iren. Wm. H. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana territory, and 
(he Shawnee Prophet, who commanded the Indians in that san- 
guinary engagement. 

For several years previous to this battle, the renowned Shaw- 
nee chief, Tecumseh, and his prophet brother, Law-le-was-i-kaw 
(loud voice), had been stirring up the various tribes of Indians 
for several hundred miles around, to resist the encroachments of 
the whites; advising them to make no more treaties with the pale 
faces; and to prevent tliein surveying those tracts of hind already 
I'cded to the whites — averring that all treaties made with isolated 
tribes were utterly void — and tliat a valid treaty couhl not be 
made without the joint consent and concurrence of all the various 
tribes, who were but fractional portions of the one great aborig- 
inal family. 

The Prophet's forces at the battle of Tippecanoe consisted of 
warriors from among the Shawnees, W^'andotts, Ottowas, Chip- 
pcwas, Kickapoos, Winnebagos, Sacs, Miamis, and Pottawat- 
omics. 

When Harrison arrived with his forces (consisting of about 
nine hundred men) within a few miles of Prophet's town, the 
Indians manifested much alarm, feigned friendship, and expressed 
great surprise that their amicable feelings for the whites should 
be for a moment doubted. But their friendly protestations did 
not prevent the Governor from using every precautionary measure 
to prevent a surprise. Guards and picket guards were stationed 
around the well selected encampment the evening before the 
battle, and orders were given that the soldiers shoirld sleep on 
their arms, with fixed bayonets, and their clothes on. 

About two hours before daylight, the Indians made an attack 
by picking off sentinels with arrows, and then rushing with 
hideous yelN tlirough the lines, into the tents of tlie sleeping 



44 

Boldiers, many of whom awoke to receive tlie stroke of tho 
uplifted knife and murderous tomahawk. 

Harrison and his brave soldiers met their foes, which were 
considered in point of numbers about equal to their own, with a 
firm and determined valor. Again and again were the desperate 
savages repulsed, in each fierce onset. Amidst the roar and blazo 
of musketry, and the rattle of small arms, the furious combatants 
were seen to grapple in the deadly conflict. Victory awhilo 
seemed poised, then vascillating, as if in doubt on which side to 
alight. But with the early beams of morning the savages were 
driven from the field, and the almost breathless victors looked 
after their wounded and buried their dead comrades. In this 
battle about thirty-seven whites were killed, and one hundred and 
fifty-one wounded, of whom twenty-five afterwards died of their 
wounds. It is reported that thirty-eight Indians were killed ou 
the battle field, and full as many if not more wounded, than there 
were of the whites. Among the killed of our gallant band, were 
Daviess, Spencer, Owen, Warwick, Randolph, Baen and White, 
while leading their heroic soldiers on the gory field, besides 
others, whose names and deeds are embalmed in the hearts of a 
grateful people. And why not? They poured out their life 
blood like water to protect your cradle and mine from the toma- 
hawk of the savages. Peace to their ashes. A few of the 
survivors of this glorious battle still remain among us. Let ua 
cherish them, and the memories of the valiant dead, whose bones 
laid bleaching on the battle field for many years — having been 
disinterred by the enemy — and were gathered together and buried 
again by the early settlers of Tippecanoe and the surrounding 
counties, assisted by a few of the inhabitants of Terre Haute, 
Vincennes, and perhaps some other points, jn the year 1830, on 
which occasion Hon. Edward A. Hannegan delivered an eloquent 
and patriotic speech, in which he eulogized the devoted heroism 
of the fallen brave, and their surviving companions in arms, who 
shared in the glory of that well-fought field, many of whom were 
present and listened to his entrancing eloquence. 

Gen. Tipton, who was a soldier in the battle, bought tho ground 
on which the battle was fought, and donated about thirteen acres 
of the ground, where the main part of the battle was fought, to 
the State of Indiana, as a burying place for his fallen comrades. 



45 

The battle ground is now enclosed with a good plank fence, 
and it is in contemplation to erect a suitable nioniuuent to com- 
memorate the names and the deeils of those who fell on the 
consecrated battle field of Tippecanoe. 

Resuming the order of my division of Tippecanoe county, I 
will begin at Columbia (now Romney), a little village laid off in 
August, 1832, by Josiah P. Halstead and Henry Ristine, on the 
Crawfordsvillc road, near the Montgomery county line. This 
will be the southwest corner of sub-division No. 8. In this 
vicinity lived Enos Park, John Fraley, the Talbots, John Ken- 
nedy, Martin Miller, David Martin, and otliers. A few miles 
oast of Romney, James B. Johnson laid off a village; in the Sum- 
mer of 1832, which he named Concord. In this neighborhood 
resided William Brady, Daniel Travis, Daniel Stoner, Recers, 
Kirkindiill, Johnsons, Eli Perkins, and a few others. Southeast 
of Concord, near Yorktown, lived the Caulkins, Wells, Coles, 
Trindle, Baker, Parvis, and Westlake. 

Un Lauramie creek, near the village of Cleveland, laid off by 
Hezekiah Hunter, in February, 1832, lived Alvin I'ippin, James 
Carr, Isaac Wickersham, Stingleys, Elliotts, LaRue, Keeler, 
Martin Roads and James Cowley. 

One or two miles southeast of Cleveland, on the road leading 
to Jefferson, was another village called Monroe, laid out by Wm. 
Major, in 1832. Here was a cluster of families, consisting of 
William and James H. Major, John Kilgore, Martin Lucas, Jas. 
B. Hartponce, Michael Culver, and a few others. I may not be 
entirely correct in the adjustment of these names to their exact 
neighborhoods, as many years have elapsed since these settle- 
ments were formed, and as they widened and extended every 
year, they soon becamo merged into one, and all the original lines 
of demarkation were completely effaced. 

Northwest of Cleveland, in the direction of Lafayette, lived 
Jacob and Jasper Whetstone, William Heaton, the Kirkpat- 
ricks, Daniel Clark, Morgan Shortridge, Billings Babcock, 
Samuel Black, James Earl, Levi Thornton, John Hoover, Alem 
Breese, James Cochrane, David H. Cochran, Samuel Parsons, 
MatLli3w Orbison, Matthaws, Phillip Hartcr, David Patton, 
Michael Bush, and a few others. 

In naming the old settlers in division No. 4, I will begin at 



46 

Lafaj'-cttc, or in its immediate vicinity, with the Grahams, L. B. 
Stockton, Hilt, Knapper, Aaron T. Claspill, James Thornton, 
Jonathan Wolf, Gushwas, Gunlde, John Doyle, James Keeno, 
Forcsinans, John Cockerell, Creeses, Walter Freeman, Silas 
Simpkins, Peter Longlois, John Allen, Garret Seymour, and 
John W. Smith. 

In the vicinity of Fairfield (now Dayton), laid off by Timothy 
Horram as early as 1829, was Timothy Horram, William Bush, 
Samuel Favorite, Joseph Barton, David Pedan, Paiges, Bizers, 
Tooles, Samuel McGeorge, Bartimis, Strothers, Steens, Staleys,' 
John Bohinson, Jesse Evans, Cleavers, McCurdy, Vincent and 
William Dye, James Wylie, Christian Barr, Ward and Burk- 
halters. 

In and about Amcricus, a town laid off many years ago L}' 
William Digby, on the east bank of the Wabash river, on the 
road leading from Lafayette to Delphi, was another neighborhood, 
composed of several families of the Stairs, John Cunningham, 
Richardson, Schoolcrafts, Stevenson, Stanfield, Gish, Benjamin 
Doty, and Edward Brown. 

Ameiicus was laid out on the nearest eligible ground for & 
town to the mouth of Tippecanoe river, where the Wabash and 
Erie canal was to terminate, according to the original grant of 
land from Congress, which induced the proprietor and many 
others to suppose that it was soon destined to become a great 
commercial town, that would throw Lafayette, Delphi, and Lo- 
gansport into the shade; and the lots sold at extremely high 
prices. But the subsequent extension of the canal, and the hard 
times, combined with other circumstances, caused the growth and 
duration of Americus to be much after the fashion of Jonah's 
gourd. 

I liave now given you, reader, a meagre skeleton of Tippeca- 
noe county, as it existed some twenty-eight or twenty-nine years 
ago, when the settlements were chiefly confined to the timber and 
borders of our many beautiful and fertile prairies; and along the 
banks of the Wabash, Wild Cat, Wea, Lauramie, Sugar creek, 
Buck creek, and other streams that checker and fertilize our 
county. 

I will now leave it for the public to draw the contrast between 
now and then. After looking through the reversed telescope, as 



47 

I placed it in your hands to enable you to got a good view of the 
"day of small things;" then change the instrument, and look at 
things as they now are, and antieipate what thev will be when 
the resources of our country are fully developed. 

I can well recollect when we used to wonder if the youngest of 
us would ever live to see the day when the whole of the Wea 
plain would he purchased and cultivated; and onr neighbors on 
the ShaAvnec, Wild Cat, and Nine Mile prairies were as short- 
sighted as we were, for they talked of the everlasting range 
they would have for their cattle and horses on those prairies — of 
the wild game and fish that v/ould be sufficient for them, and 
their sons, and their sons' sons. But those prairies, for more than 
fifteen years past, have been like so many cultivated gardens, and 
as for venison, wild turkies and fish, they are now mostly brought 
from the Kankakee and the lakes. 



CHAPTER IX. 



EARLY SETTLERS OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY BLACK CREEK SCHCOIi 

master's LETTER TO HIS COUSIN BOB, DATED APRIL, 1826 

CABIN WALLS COVERED WITH STRETCHED COON SKINS, MUSKRAT 

AND MINK SKINS JOHN SIMPSON HIS SUCCESS IN HUNTING 

PHIN. THOMAS AND HIS YAUGER FORKS OF COAL CREEK OLD 

BETTLERS OF FOUNTAIN AND THEIR LOCALITIES COVINGTON— 

JOHN EMMETT, THE PREACHER HIS PREACHING PLACES PARRO- 

QUETS AND SAND HILL CRANES DEATH OF A GOOD HUNTING DOCI 

RUMOR OF INDIAN HOSTILITIES GENERAL ALARM SCOUTS SENT 

TO OSBORN's PRAIRIE PEOPLE IN FORTS PROWESS OF MRS. R. 

GUN FIRED AT THE WATERMELON PATCH nETURN OF THE 8C0UT8 

FALSE ALARM LAND HUNTER's SCARED AT PRETTY PRAIRIE, 

NEAR THE MOUTH OF TIPPECANOE RIVER SQUATTER* 8 RUSE 

YANKEE TRICK PERPETRATED BY A HOOSIER. 

In compliance with my promise made in a former chapter, that 
I would give a sketch of the early settlement of Fountain county, 
I now proceed to the task, with such data as I have been able to 
procure. The most authentic and reliable information I have yet 
found on the subject, is contained in an original letter, written by 
the Black creek school master to his cousin Bob, who resided in 
Wayne county, near Hichmond, at the time he received tha 
friendly epistle, which reads thus: 

Forks op Coal Creek, Fountain Co.,) 
April 13, 1826. f 

Dear Cousin Boh: In my last letter from Crawfordsville, I 
promised to give you a description of this region of country, 
shortly after our arrival here. I shall now attempt to redeem my 
promise, though I confess there is but little to write about iiero, 
except the country, which is in general in a wild, unreclaimed 
Btate, just as it came from the hands of God, and the Indiana. 



49 

You recollect seeing, while on your visit to our house in 
Montgomery county last Spring, how the outside walls of the 
settlers' cabins were covered with stretched coon skins, muskrat, 
and mink skins, and the eaves of the houses were surmounted 
with buck horns, and other trophies of the chase. The same can 
be seen here on a more extended scale, and as fast as they become 
dry, the skins are taken down to make room for more. 

Wc have in this neighborhood a blacksmith named John 
Simpson, a most excellent man, who is a perfect Nimrod in the 
hunting line. He kills more deer and turkies in one week with 
his old gun "Betty." than your favorite hunter, Phin. Thomas, 
would in a month with his yager. But it may be because game 
is more plenty here than in Montgomery county, where Phin. did 
his hunting. 

It is a heavy timbered country here, and some of the settlerfi 
have a fev/ acres apiece cleared, and under cultivation. 1 Avant 
father to move to the Wea prairie, on the Wabash river, where 
he owns prairie lands, which are much the easiest improved, but 
he thinks the country there entirely too new to move to, for a 
year or two to come. I don't see for my part how it could be 
much harder to get along any place than it is here; for after we 
are through with our day's v/ork — clearing, making rails, or 
grubbing — we have to put in a good part of our evenings pound- 
ing hominy, or turning the hand mill. But it gives us a relish 
for our hoecake, and there is no dyspepsia amongst us. 

It is very thinly settled around the Forks of Coal Creek, and, 
indeed, throughout this new county of Fountain. I believe I 
know every family around us, and as it will take but three or 
four lines of my letter, I will give you their names and localities: 

East of the Forks live Wm. Cochran, Hiram Jones, Benjamin 
Kepner, and the Browns. Further up the south Fork of Coal, 
live Hester, Esq. Mendenhall, Wade, Peter Eastwood, Ball and 
Gardner. Below the Forks, in our neighborhood, live Abner 
Rush, Samuel Rush, John Simpson, John Fugate, Jacob Strayer, 
Bond, Wm. Robe, Barney Ristine, Evans, and Leonard Lloyd, a 
bachelor, who lives in his cabin alone, "monarch of all he sur- 
veys, and lord of the fowl and the brute," on his own premises, 
at least. 

On the south side of the creek there are four families, namely: 

4 



50 

Dempsey Glasscock, Joseph Glasscock, John Blair, and Patton, 
Down the creek is another settlement, composed of Whites, Bry- 
ants, Forbes, Medsekers, and a few more families. Up the north 
Fork of Coal Creek, in the vicinity of the Doty ite Mills, live 
Osborn, Loppe, Helraes, Jonathan Birch, and Snow. 

There is quite an excitement about the location of the county 
seat. The lower end of the county is in favor of Covington; but 
folks around here prefer a more central point. The Forks here 
are near the geographical centre of the county, but the arguments 
in favor of a county seat on a navigable river, may prevent our 
getting the county seat located at this place. 

Lest you might think there was danger of us becoming semi- 
barbarous in this wild region, I will here state that we have circuit 
preaching every four weeks, by old Father Emmett, a veteran 
minister of the Methodist denomination, who has been a faithful 
watchman on the walls of Zion for more than forty years. He is 
beloved by all who know him — old and young, saint and sinner. 
His preaching is of the plain, practical, but effective kind, that 
reaches the hearts of his hearers. He has three preaching places 
within reach of us, viz; at John Simpson's, Kepner's school house 
above the Forks of Coal creek, and in White's neighborhood iu 
the direction of Covington. 

I have found two species of birds here, different from any I 
ever saw on White Water — the sand hill crane and parroquet. 
This new species of crane is quite different from the common blue 
crane, being much larger, and of a sandy, gray color. They go 
in large flocks like wild geese, but fly much higher, and their 
croaking notes can be distinctly heard when they are so high in 
the air that they cannot be seen. Parroquets are beautiful birds, 
and fly in flocks of from twenty to fifty in a flight. In size they 
are some larger than a common quail, and resemble small parrots, 
from which they derive their name. When full grown their 
plumage is green, except the neck, which is yellow, and the head 
red. The heads of the young ones continue yellow until they are 
a year old. When flying, this bird utters a shrill, but cheerful 
and pleasant note, and the flash of their golden and green plumage 
in the sunlight, has a most bewitching effect upon the beholder; 
who, for a moment, deems he is on the verge of a brighter sphere, 
where the birds wear richer plumage, and utter a sweeter song. 



51 

It is with regret that I announce to you the death of oiii excel- 
lent coon dog — old Bose — (the same that Sandford Catterlin and 
me had the fuss about, the night we cut the coon tree that fell 
across McCafferty'.s fence, above Crawfordsville.) His death, 
which was a violent one, was brought about in the following 
manner: A gang of cattle came into the sugar camp, and com- 
menced drinking water out of the troughs. Bose was sent to 
drive them off. Iilager as ho always was to do his duty, he seized 
a large o.x: by the nose. The ox ran and jumped over a large 
log, dragging the dog ovci" with it, and striking the point of the 
hoof of one of its fore feet on the poor dog's side, and crushing 
in his ribs. Me lingered a few hours and died. We buried him 
with the honors of war, by the side of a large log. ISyion's dog, 
that he thought so much of, and wrote such a pathetic epitaph 
upon, was not a better, truer dog, than poor old Bose. 

1 did not get the school 1 expected, when I wrote to you last. 
(Jol. L got in ahead of me. 

The next Summer after writing the above letter, we find the 
following entry, made by our journalist: 

July 14, 1827. 

A. report reacb.ed hen; yesterday by a messenger despatched 
from Osborn's prairie, that the Pottawatomie, Miami and Kicka- 
poo Indians were massacrcing the white population on Tippecanoe 
river near the Pretty prairie, and on Wild Cat and Wea creeks, 
and that they were hourly expected at Shawnee prairie, where the 
inhabitants were gathering into forts, and making preparations to 
repel their murderous attack. 

We were advised that prudence dictated that our neighborhood 
should also fortify forthwith. 

A general panic seized the people hereabouts, a majority of 
whom were in favor of gathering into a fort as quick as possible ; 
but others, more used to frontier life and Indian alarms, and 
among them my father, thought it best to first send out a few 
scouts to reconnoitre and report the actual state of things. Ac- 
cordingly my father, eldest brother, and Mr.E , accompanied 

the messenger on his return to Osborn's neighborhood. 

Without assembling together, the neighborhood awaited their 
eeturn. Mother, thinking that Mrs. E , (who was left at 



52 

tome with two little children during her husband's absence, ) wobM 
be alarmed forher andherchildrens* safety, sent her word to come 
down and bring her two little boys, and stay with us until her 

husband returned. But Mrs. E returned in answer to 

mother's kind invitation, that " she had made up her mind to 
stay at home and defend her house to the last extremity — that she 
would fight in blood shoe-mouth deep, before she would leave her 
cabin to be burned by the red-sldns." 

I thought if Mrs. K possessed such true grit, that I cer- 
tainly had pluck enough to go into the watermelon patch and get 
some melons. So I told the family that I would slip out through 
the cornfield and bring in a few melons for us to eat. Mother at 
first remonstrated against my going, but finally consented, on 
condition that I would be prudent, and keep among the growing 
corn, going and returning. Just as I reached the patch and was 
stooping to pull a melon, bang ! went a rifle about thirty yards 
distant in the corn. I straightened up — clear miss, thought I ; 
a stupid, bewildered sensation crept over me for a moment. But 
the thought that the enemy would soon be upon me with tomahawk 
and scalping-knife, dispelled the stupor that momentarily bound 
tne and I instantly sprang out into the growing corn and made 
for home with all possible speed, meeting mother about half way; 
she had heard the rifle, and run to the rescue without any weapon 
to screen me except a mother's impulsive heart. 

j^jj.g i{ also heard the gun, and supposed that the work 

of death had already commenced in the neighborhood. But lier- 
intrepid spirit was rather intensified than depressed by the prox- 
imity of danger ; and her husband's axe, which she had brought 
in frora the wood-pile, looked as though it was ready and willing 
to be sunk to the helve in the skulls of half a dozen Indians. 

During the afternoon it was ascertained that one of our neigh- 
bors had discharged his gun at a squirrel in the field, and that he 
knew nothing of my being in the melon patch at the time, nor of 
the panic produced by the sound of his gun. 

This morning our scouts returned, and brought the news that 
it was a false alarm ; that the Indians were peaceable ; that no 
depredations had been committed, and that the story and alarm 
originated in the following manner : A man who owned a claim 
on Tippecanoe river, near Pretty prairie, fearing that some one 



53 

of the nnmeroiis land hunters that, were constantly scouring the 
country, might enter the land lie had settled upon hefore he could 
raise the money to huy it, seeing one day a cavalcade of land 
hunters riding in the direction of his claim, mounted his horse 
and darted off at full 8peed to meet them, swinging his hat and 
shouting at iha top of his voice, '* Indians ! Indians ! The woods 
are full of Indians, murdering and scalping all hefore them !" — 
They paused a moment, but as the terrified horseman still urged 
his jaded animal and cried, "Help, Longlois — Cicots, help!" 
they turned and fled like a troop of letreating cavalry, hastening 
to the thickest settlements and giving the alarm, which spread like 
fire among stubble, until the whole frontier region was shocked 
with the startling cry. 

The squatter, who fabricated the story and perpetrated the false 
alarm, tor)k a circuitous route and returned home that evening ; and 
while others were busy building temporary block houses, and rub- 
bing up their guns to meet the Indians, he was quietly gathering up 
money, and slipped down to Crawfordsville and entered his land, 
to which he returned again, chuckling in his sleeve and mentally 
soliloquizing — There is a Yankee trick for yon — done up ly a IIoo- 
sier. 



CHAPTER X. 

ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL MASTER TO HIS COUSIN LARCTH 

GANG OF WILD DEER HUNTER WOUNDED IN THE WOODS NOVEJI 

MODE OF CHASTISING AN INEBRIATE SALUTARY EFFECTS OF 

DOMESTIC DISCIPLINE COUSIN BOB's REPLY THE CHOKE TRAP 

AN INCIDENT IN THE EARLY JUDICATURE OF INDIANA 'SQUIRB 

TONGS HIS EXTENSIVE JURISDICTION TRIAL AND FINE OF A 

PRISONER HIS INCARCERATION A STRIKING COINCIDENCE. 

Another letter from tlie school master to hie cotisin has been 
found, which reads thus: 

Forks of Coal Creek, Fountain Co.,[ 
May 2, 1827. [ 

Dear Cousin Boh: Father has sold his farm here in the Avoods, 
and talks of moving to the Wea plain. The whole family are in 
favor of going there, as soon as we can get ready. 

Game still continues very plenty here. Last winter I stood in 
our door and counted tweuty-two deer in a drove, skipping along 
within one hundred yards of the house. In a few minutes after 
they passed, we heard the report of a gun about a quarter of a 
mile distant, followed by a loud screaming, as of some person in 
distress. Brother Richard and a neighbor man ran to see what 
was the matter. They found James Simpson, eldest son of our 
"mighty hunter," sitting on the snow a few rods from a prostrate 
buck he had just brought down, twisting a cotton handkerchief 
around his thigh, to stop the blood in a wound he received while 
attempting to stick the deer. As he stooped to cut the throat of 
the dying animal, it gave a flounder, and turned the point of the 
knife into the hunter's thigh, above the knee, cutting a branch of 
the femoral artery, which was bleeding profusely. My brother 
and his assistant surgeon, discovering the extreme danger of the 
wound, compressed the artery by twisting a stick through a 
tournequet, made of a strong pair of suspenders, staunched the 
wound with lint and talloAv from the gun box, put Jim on a 
temporary hand-sled constructed for the purpose, and hauled him 



55 

home, leaving the yhiughtered buck, which had died from loss of 
blood, to be devoured by the Avolves — "unwept, unhonored and 
unsung." 

We have in our neighborhood another indubitable proof of the 
old adage, that necessity is the mother of invention, which may 
be regarded as a parallel case to the one related in your story of 
the "choke trap." 

There is a little old man named B in this vicinity, who is 

in the habit of getting drunk at every log rolling and house 
raising he attends, and on coming home at night makes indis- 
criminate war upon his wife and daughters, and everything that 
comes in his way. 

The old lady and daughters bore with hia tyranny and maudlin 
abuse as long as forbearance seemed to be a virtue. For awhile 
they adopted the doctrine of non-resistance, and would fly from 
the house on his approach; but they found that this only made 
him worse. At length they resolved to change the order of 
things. They held a council of war, m which it was determined 
that the next time he came home drunk, they would catch him 
and tie him hand and foot, and take him out and tie him fast to a 
tree, and keep him there until he got duly sober. 

It was not long until they had a chance to put their decree into 
execution. True to their plan, Avhen they saw him coming two of 
them placed themselves behind the door with ropes, and the other 
caught him by the wrists as he crossed the threshhold; he was 
instantly lassoed. A tussel ensued, but the old woman and girls 
fell uppei most. They made him fast with the ropes, and dragged 
him out towards the designated tree. 

He raved, swore, remonstrated, and begged alternately, but to 
no effect — the laws of the Modes and Persians were not more 
unalterable than Avas their determination to punish the stubborn 
offender. They tied him fast to a tree and kept him there in limbo 
the most of the night. J<or did they untie him even after he 
became sober, until they extracted a promise from him that he 
would behave himself and keep sober for the future, and not 
maltreat them for the favor they had conferred upon him and 
themselves. Two or three applications of this mild and diluted 
form of lynch law, has had an admirable effect in restoring the 
domestic order and happiness of the family, and correcting the 



56 

demeanor of the delinquent husband and father. The old woman 
thinks the plan they pursued far better and less expensive than it 
would have been if they had gone ten miles to Esquire Make-peace 
every few weeks, and got out a writ for an assault and battery, or 
warrant to keep the peace; which would cost the family, besides 
the trouble and expense of attending as witnesses before the justice 
and circuit court, ten or twenty dollars every month or two, and 
done no good towards reforming the old man. I reckon she is 
more than half right. By-the-by, Bob, I would be much obliged 
if in your next letter you would rehearse the story of the "choke 

trap," which I wish to show to Mrs. E and the girls, to let 

them see the striking coincidence in the two cases. 

In compliance with the request contained in the letter, "Cousin 
Bob" furnished the following version of the "choke trap," an 
incident in the early judicature of Indiana: 

Di''ring the early history of Indiana, about the year 1S08, if my 
memory serves me correctly, in one of the neighborhoods on the 
east fork of White Water, there occuried a flagrant breach of the 
peace, which demanded a summary exercise of the "laws of the 
land." 

A certain imgallant offender had flogged his wife in a most 
barbarous manner, and then drove her from home. Bleeding and 
weeping, the poor woman appealed before Justice Tongs for 
redress. The Justice wrote out an affidavit, which was signed, 
sworn to, and subscribed in due form, according to the then exist- 
ing laws of the territory. 

A warrant vpas soon placed in the hands of a constable, com- 
manding him to arrest, and foithwith bring the offender before 
Justice Tongs, to answer to the charge preferred against him. 
.'Vfter an absence of some five or six hours, the constable returned 
with the prisoner in custody. The constable, however, had a 
vexatious time of it, truly, for the prisoner, who was a man of 
giant bulk, and great muscular power, had frequently on the way, 
after he had consented peaceably to accompany him to the magis- 
trate's office, stopped short and declared he would go no further — 
observing at the same time that neither he (the constable) nor 
'Squire Tongs had any business to meddle with his domestic 
concerns. It was during one of those vexatious parleys — the 
constable coaxing and j)ersuading, and the prisoner protesting and 



57 

iwinging back liko an unruly ox — that the constable fortunately 
espied a hunter at a short distance, who was armed and accoutred 
in real backwoods style. 

The constable beckoned to the hunter, who came up to his assist- 
ance, and who, after hearing the particulars of the affair, cocked 
his rifle, and soon galloped off the privsoner to the 'Squire's office. 
But this was but the beginning of the trouble in the case. The 
witnesses were yet to be summoned and brought before the 
Justice — even the complaining witness had unexpectedly with- 
drawn from the house and premises of the Justice, and was to be 
looked after. 

The hunter could not possibly stay long, as his comrades wcro 
to meet him at a point down ten or fifteen miles distant that 
evening. The prisoner was quite sullen, and it was evident that 
the 'Squire could not keep him safely if the constable and hunter 
were to leave. And although the 'Squire's jurisdiction extended 
from the west line of Ohio far towards the Rocky mountains, and 
from the Ohio river north to Green bay, yet, so sparse was the 
neighborhood in point of population, and so scattering were the 
settlers, that he and his faithful constable found that it would be 
of but little use to make a call upon the posse comliattis. But in 
this critical situation of affairs, the fruitful mind of the Justice 
Lit upon a first-rate plan to keep the prisoner until the witnesses 
could be brought. It was simply to pry up the corner of his 
heavy eight railed fence, which stood hard by — make a crack two 
or three rails above the ground — and thrust the prisoner's head 
through the crack, and then take out the pry. 

As soon as the 'Squire made known his plan to the company, 
they with one accord, resolved to adopt it. The constable imme- 
diately rolled out an empty bee-gum for a fulcrum, and applied a 
fence rail for a lever, up went the fence, the Justice took hold of 
the prisoner's arm, and, with the assisting nudges of the hunter, 
who brought up the rear, ride in hand, they thrust the prisoner's 
head through the crack nolens volens, and then took out the prop. 
There lay the offender safe enough, his head on one side of the 
fence, and his body on the other. The hunter v/ent on his way, 
Batisfied that he had done signal service to his country — and the 
constable could now be spared to hunt up the witnesses. 



58 

The prisoner, in the meantime, although the crack in the fence 
was fully large enough for his neck without pinching, kept 
squirming ahout, and hawling out lustily, "Choke trap! the d — / 
take your choke trapP' 

Toward sunset the constable returned with the witnesses. The 
prisoner was taken from his singular duress, and was regularly 
tried for his misdemeanor. He was found guilty, mulct in a fine, 
and, as it appeared from the evidence on the trial that the defend- 
ant had been guilty aforetime of the same offence, the Justice 
sentenced him to three hours' imprisonment in jail. There being 
no jail within one hundred mile.s, the constable and bystanders 
led the offender to the fence again — rolled up the gum, applied 
the rail, and thrust his head a second time through the fence. 
There he remained in limbo until ten o'clock that night; when, 
after giving security for the fine and costs, he was set at liberty, 
with not a few cautions that for the future he had better "let 
Betsy alone," or he would get another application of the law and 
the "choke trap." 



CHAPTER XI. 



ORGANIZATION OF FOUNTAIN OODNTY PIONEER STEAMBOATS SPIRIT- 
ED RACE BETWEEN THE RIVER TOWNS DESCRIPTION OF BACKWOODS 

SCHOOLS, SCHOOL HOUSES, &C. BRANCHES TAUGHT BOOKS, MAPS, 

CHARTS, &C., USED CONTRAST BETWEEN ANCIENT AND MODERM 

MODE OF TEACHING. 

Fountain county was organized in 1825, and soon afterward 
the town of Covington, situated on or near the Wabash river, 
was adopted as the county seat. Shortly afterward Portland 
was laid off at the mouth of Bear creek, and Attica near the mouth 
of Pine creek, on the east bank of the Wabash. 

Terre Haute was the only river town of any considerable 
importance above old post Vincennes, and it was clearly evident 
from the vast body of rich lands lying on both sides of the 
W^abash river, recently purchased of the Indians and brought into 



59 

market by the general governinent, that there must be at no very 
distant (lay, at least one large commercial town on the river aboye 
Terre Haute. 

Ah yet Montezuma, (Covington, Portland, Attica, Williams- 
port, Lagrange and Lafayette were in the chrysalis state, but were 
ambitious to enter the list as rivals to become the great emporium 
of trade on the upper Wabash. 

All of them being river towns, and possessing equal, or nearly 
equal, natural and commercial advantages, it was hard to divina 
which of them would get and keep the start in the lace. 

Keel boats and perogues touched at all these points, and the 
same pioneer steamboats — Victory, Paul Pry, Daniel Boone, 
William Tell, Facility, Fairy Queen, Fidelity, Science, Republi- 
can, and otliers — .stopped at tlie wharf of each of these towns, 
whenever the business of the place required it — and it was some 
time before the friends of either town could say their favorite was 
"a head and neck" ahead of the rest. 

The rapid growth of Crawfordsville, Avhich thus far outstripped 
all other towns in western Luliana, inspired a hope that inland 
towns might enter the list of competition, even against river 
towns, and forthwith sprung up Rob Roy, and Newtown, so near 
Attica, that they cram})ed her energies and held her back from 
making a fair start witli the rest. Indeed, they so cut off her 
trade, and hopes of success, that in the spring of l^oO, poor little 
dwarfed Attica well nigh give up the ghost. Her enfeebled and 
dying condition excited the pity of her sister Williamsport, across 
the river, who brought her over several bowls of porridge to keep 
her from kicking the bucket. 

Whether Williamsport acted from pure motives of disinterested 
benevolence, or on the principle of the boy, who, when fighting, 
eried, "Help Jake, for help again," tradition does not inform u.s. 
My opinion is, that she acted from the prompting of a noble and 
generous philanthropy. Her subsequent conduct and character 
justifies this Qonclusion. I believe that Williamsport can this 
day (although not as large as manj^ other towns) say, with a clear 
conscience, 

'Ttat 7iierty I U> olliers bIiow, 
Tliat mercy kIiow to mo." 

It may not be amiss here to mention that Keep's store at Port- 



60 

land, and Sloan's store at Covington, furnished the most of the 
goods used by the people for one hundred miles up and down the 
river. Powder, lead, salt, iron, whisky and leather, were the 
staples of the trade of those days, and were exchanged for the 
productions of the country, such as beeswax, tallow, feathers, 
ginseng, furs, deer skins, wild hops, (fee. 

After a while Lafayette dashed ahead of all the rest, throwing 
dust in their faces until she got so far ahead that the dust ceased 
to annoy them. Portland and Lagrange, being distanced, were 
ruled off" the track. The rest continued the race. Montezuma 
and Covington kept side by side several lengths behind Lafayette 
and Attica, which led from the scratch. Attica in running spread 
herself so that she threw so much dirt in Williamsport's eyes 
(who was so close to her), that Williamsport was compelled to 
fall behind, and just kept from being distanced. 

The last round left only Lafayette and Attica on the track. 
The prize was a glittering one — bewitching and dazzling. Attica 
felt her inability to win it. She yielded the conquest in favor of 
Lafayette; nay, more, she took the sparkling diadem and placed 
it on the brow of Lafayette, and crowned her the Star City of the 
West; then modestly stepped back, like a bridesmaid, blushing 
in her beauty; she felt that she was second best, at any rate; and 
is now every where hailed as the brightest jewel on the brow of 
old Fountain. 

Leaving Attica, I will next cross the river to Williamsport, 
the county seat of Warren county, and draw a daguerreotype of 
that town, and some of the old settlers of Wai-ren, as far back as 
1829-BO. 

The reader may wish to know why my peregrinations over 
Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Fountain and Warren coiinties, were 
BO extensive in those early times? The question is very easily 
answered. Being a school master, I was, of course, "abroad in 
the land," looking up the most densely settled neighborhoods in 
the country; and it often took two or three of the largest neigh- 
borhoods to furnish "scholars" enough for one good school. 

I should have, porhaps, at an earlier stage of my chronicles, 
given the reader a description of our schoqls in this region of 
country, in those early times. I now propose, with the reader's 
•onsent, to make amends for the omission by giving a brief 



61 

description of backwoods schools, school houses, &c., before 
drawing my pictura of Waneu county and her pioneer settlers. 

The school house, which was generally a log cabin with punch- 
eon floor, cat-an-clay chimney, and a part of two logs chopped 
away on each side of the house for windows, over which greased 
newspapers or foolscap was pasted to admit the light, and keep 
ont the cold. The house was generally furnished with one split 
bottomed chair for the teacher, and rude benches made out of 
slabs or puncheons for the pupils to sit upon, so arranged as to 
get the benefit of the huge log fire in the Winter time, and the 
light from the window.s. To these add a broom, water bucket, 
and tin cup or gourd, and the furniture list will be complete. 

The books then in general use, were Webster's Elementary 
Spelling Book, the Bible, English Reader and supplement to the 
same; Dillworth's and Pike's Arithmetic, Murray's English 
Grammar, and any History of the United States or Geography 
that could be procured by the parents or guardians of those who 
attended school. Maps, Charts, Atlases and Geographies were 
much mora scarce than at the present day. Parents and guardians 
then did not have to run the gauntlet every quarter or two, to buy 
a new atlas, grammar, or arithmetic, to suit the taste of every 
new teacher that successively swayed the birch in the district, at 
no little pecuniary sacrifice, as well as at the destruction of all 
symmetry and uniformity in the intellectual training of their 
children. "Baker" was then spelled and pronounced the same 
way in all the books. And the multiplication and enumeration 
tables were set down in figures and diagrams just as they are now; 
nor have they changed a whit since I was a boy. The nine digits, 
and the three R's — toasted by an American Tittlebat Titmouse, as 
the initial letters for Reading, R-itlng, and R-itkmetic — were then 
great institutions in the land as well as now. The appropriate 
and classic lessons contained in the text books used in those 
schools were indelibly impressed upon the memories of the 
learners, and lasted during life. Who does not remember the 
fable of the "old man who found a rude boy upon one of his apple 
trees, stealing apples"? Of the fox, that was entangled in the 
bramble, by the bank of the river, and came near being destroyed 
by .flies, and when assistance was offered, declined it for the 
reason that a "more hungry" swarm might pounce upon him, and 



62 

unck away all his blood. And the story and picture of poor dog 
Tray, who got severely v/liip2:)ed for being caught in bad company; 
and other like useful and instructive lessons,- containing the best 
of morals, which loom up like mile posts along the pathway of 
the past. In my humble opinion, there was more system and 
uniformity in the education of the youth of those days than there 
is at the present time. The young man educated in any portion of 
our government, knew the elementary course of reading and 
studies pursued by any other, and all other students in the Union, 
from Maine to Louisiana, and from the shores of the Atlantic to 
the most remote log school house in the west, thus the better 
enabling the citizens of our wide-spread and common country to 
understand and appreciate each other; drawing les.-ions, and 
sentiments, and household words from the same books. 

There were then no one hundred and one different spelling 
books, grammars and geographies, to bewilder and discourage the 
young mind with varieties, resembling Hudibras' description of 
conglomeration: 

"An ill-baked masd of heteiogeuieous inatfer, 
To f'jrm whlob alltlio devils apcwffJ the batter." 

That great improvements have been made in the art of teaching, 
as well as in the arts and sciences taught, within the last quarter 
of a century, none will deny. Mental arithmetic, the outline 
maps, the introduction of the black board, and mathematical and 
philosophical apparatus, into the schools, has greatly facilitated 
the acquisition of learning — rendering it easier for both teacher 
and student, and enabling a larger class to look upon the demon- 
strations exhibited in figures and diagrams, than could otherwise 
be made to understand the truth or fact sought to be illustrated. 
But the fact is equally clear, and to be regretted, that this easy 
and ready mode of imparting knowledge often fails to make any 
deep or lasting impression on the memory of the learner, who 
feels that he has been galloped through a multiplicity of studies, 
deemed necessary in the course laid down by the school or insti- 
tution to which he belongs, and he finally graduates and obtains 
his diploma — feeling, however, that he has threaded a labyrinth 
through which he could not have passed without the help and 
«ide-lift8 of experienced tutors — who, had they kept him much 
longer at his spelling and copy book, would have done him and 



his country far more service. Bad spelling and chickcu-track 
chirography, aro far from being creditable to a graduate of a 
popular college, like Dartmouth or Yale; yet we sometimes have 
the mortification to witness such scholastic specimens. 

It was not so with those who graduated at our log school 
houses in the counti-y. They were generally all good spellers, 
and could write a legible hand. 



CHAPTER XII. 



OLD SETTLKR8 OP WILLXAMSPORT AND SUUroUNDIXG MilGHBORHOODS 

PINE CREEK KlCKAl'OO CICOT's LANDING DOCTOR YANDE3 

AND ANOTHER MAN DROWNED RAINSVII.LE AND ITS VICINITY 

REED AM) DAVIs' SETTLEMENT JACK STIK60N AND THE GAMBLERS 

JACK INDICTED HIS TRIAL HIS SPEECH IS ACQUITTED NATU- 
RAL SCENERY AROUND WILLIAM8P0RT THE FALLS OF FALL CREEK 

MINERAL SPRING IJELOW TOWN LARGE STONES ON THE SURFACB 

OF THE GROUND A BOARDING HOUSB SCENE SOMNAMBULISM- 
ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. 

On my first visit to Williamsport, the county seat of Warren 
oounty, I stopped with William Search, who kept a boarding 
house on Main street, near where the Warren Republican, an 
excellent newspaper, is now printed and published by my old 
friend, Enos Canutt, Esq. 

James Cunningham, the clerk and recorder of the county, 
boarded and kept his office in Search's house; and as the most of 
his time was occupied in building a couple of flat boats to carry 
corn to the New Orleans market the next Spring, he employed 
mo to write in his office of nights, and on Saturdays, which 
would not interfere with my school hours. 

The town then consisted of five families, viz: William Harrison, 
the proprietor of the village, who kept the ferry, and a little 
tavern and grocery at the foot of Main street; Dr. Jas. H. Buell, 
Ullery, Search, and a man called Wild Cat Wilson. Two only 
(Harrison and Wilson) of the families above named had children 
largo enough to go to school. The rest of my patrons lived in 



64 

the country, some two or three miles from town, and consisted of 
John Semans, sheriff of the county, Wesley Clark, Rohb, Hick- 
enbotham, and one or two more. 

At this time Warren county was but thinly settled. Perrin 
Kent, county surveyor, Tillotson, Clinton, and a few other fami- 
lies, lived down towards Baltimore and Mound prairie. 

On Redwood, and sprinkled through the woods, and on the 
edge of Grand praiiie, lived John B. King, Shanklin, Jameson, 
Hall, Butterfield, Purviance, and a few others. On Kickapoo, a 
small stream lying north of Big Pine creek, was a settlement 
composed of Boggs, Enoch Farmer, Samuel Ensley, John and 
Joseph Cox, Seavcrs, the Avidow Mickle, McMahan, the widow 
Cox, Hollingsworth, Solomon Munroe, Isaac Waymire and 
Zachariah Cicot, a French and Indian trader, v/ho was born on 
the place where he lived (near where the town of Independence 
now stands) more than forty years before the organization of 
Warren county. 

It was at this place — Cicot's landing — in the Spring of 1829, 
if my memory serves me correctly, that Dr. Simon Yandcs, with 
two other men, attempted to cross the Wabash river in a canoe, 
and were thrown out in the middle of the river, and the doctor 
and one other were drowned; the third with difficulty made the 
shore, and escaped a watery grave. 

Up Pine creek, in the Rainsville neighborhood, lived James 
Gooden and Benjamin Crow, county commissioners, William and 
Jonathan Roads, Dickson Cobb, Ridinour, Seymour Roads, 
William Railsback, Medseker, Esq. Kearns, McCords, and a few 
others. Above Cicot's was Judge Samuel B. Clark, Fenton, 
Magee, Edward Mace (father of the Hon. Dan. Mace), Jerry 
Davis, John and Gabriel Reed, Thomas Johnson, Dawsons, Orrin 
Munson, Sino Munson, James Stewart, Moores, Bowyer and 
John Stevenson, alias "Jack Stinson," who, in his earlier and 
palmier days, taught school in the Reed and Davis neighborhood, 
and perpetrated none of the eccentricities which filled up the last 
twenty years of his life. 

While Jack is on the tapis — the notorious "Philosopher of the 
Nineteenth Century," as he styled himself, with whom the most 
of my readers have long been acquainted. I will relate a novel 



65 

triumpli fijlirjvjl by tin "p'il!o-;o-.);ior" ilnrinj a term of tha 
circuit court hold :it Willianisp )rt uiauy years sin.'e. 

During the early tinics in iliis country, bci'oro l)0()ks and news- 
papers liad beccinc! plent}^ some of the members of thi; legal 
profession, including sherills, bailiffs, etc., would O'casionallj 
engage in the very lejjrehensihle practice of playing e;irds, and 
sometimes diiiTk a I'dllc too much whisky. During a leru.i of tho 
court, Jack found out where these genteel sportsmen met of even- 
ings to peruse the history of the "four kings," as they termed it. 
He Vi'eut to the dooi' ami knocked for admission. To tlie question, 
"who is there?" he answered "Jack." The insiders hesitated — 
be kaockodand thumped importunately. At length a voice from 
■within saivl: "(io away da/k; we have already/bu'r Jaeks in our 
g.ime, and we will not consent to have a "cold one" wrung in 
on us." 

Indignant at tliis rebuff from gratlciuju from wliom be bad 
expected kinder treatment, he whcelc;! olf from th:; door, muiter- 
ing vengeance, whicb excite.l noalarm in the minds of th.' pbiyers. 

At lirst he started up towai\ls the Fails to w,i,!k o!!' his passion, 
if possible; but tho further ho wont tho madder ho goL lio 
finally co'.i:;ludod ho would not "pass" wliilo hj h dd or might 
bold so many trumps in his hands; bat would return and "play 
a strong hand" with tbom. 

Ho gathered bis arms lull of stones, a little larg.;r than David 
gathoied out of the brook to tlnow at (Joiiah, and whon bo got 
noar enough bo showered a volley of thorn through tho win low 
into the room where they v/ero I'.layiiig — extinguishing thoir 
lights, tho iirst platoon, and routing the whole baud witli tho 
utmost trepiLlation into the street, in seai-cb ol' their furious 
assailant. Jajk stoo.l his grorm 1, and tohl thoni tiiat was a more 
foretaste of what thoy miglit ex[)Ojt if thoy molested iiim in tin 
least. Next day tho pugnacious .fade ums arrested to airswor an 
in li -tm Mit i'or malijioas mis-hijf, ;iud failing to giv;> bail, v/as 
lolgjl in jail. His proio juto.-s laugh? 1 tliroag i ih ; g,-a„e3 of 
th; prison as tlioy passod. Mjanwhilo .)a.-k "nurso I ids wrath to 
k^jp it warm," ail iali;}! a sp3j;'iia hi-; ova do:'oa;j. in dii'j 
timo b) was takoa bjforo t!io court — \\i in lijiui.'nt v^x !, an I ho 
was askod w!ml b,i plea 1 to th.o inlicfniont. "Not gaihy," ho 
ansu'orod, in a deop, earno.U t >u.\ "Have you counsel eu.,'igoi 

5 



66 

to defend you? Mr. B." enquired the Judge. "No, please your 
honor, I desire none; with your permission, I will speak for 
myself." "Very well," said the Judge. A titter ran through 
the crowd. After the piosecuting attorney had gone through 
with the evidence, and his opening remarks in the case, tho 
prisoner arose and said: "It is a lamentable fact, well known to 
the court and the jury, and to all who hear me, that our county 
seat has for many years been infested and disgraced (especially 
during court time), with a knot of drunken, carousing gamblers, 
whose bacchanalian revels and midnight orgies disturb the quiet, 
and pollute the morals of our town. Shall these nvisances longer 
remain in our midst, to debauch society and lead our young mea 
to destruction? Fully impressed with a sense of their turpitude, 
and my duty as a good citizen of the community in which I live, 
I resolved to abnie the nuisance, which, according to the doctrine 
of the common law, with which your honor is familiar, I, or any 
other citizen, had a right to do. 1 have often listened with pleas- 
ure to the charges your honor gave the grand jury, to ferret out 
crime, and all maimer of gaming in our community. I saw I had 
it in my power to ferret out those fellows with a volley of stones, 
and save the county the cost of finding and trying a half dozen 
indictments. Judge, I did abate the nuisance — and consider it 
one of the most meritorious acts of my life." 

The prosecutor made no reply. The judge and lawyers looked 
at each other with a significant glance. A nolle prosequi was 
entered. Jack was acquitted, and was ov(t afterward couKidered 

a trump. 

The natural scenery around tho town of VVilliameport is roman- 
tic and beautiful, well worthy the pencil of the painter or the pen 
of the poet. A range of hills surrounded the original town, on 
the north and west, crowned with amphitheatre ranges of trees, 
whose tops gradually rose above each other in such regular 
gradations, that in the Spring time, when robed in green, or 
when attired in their variegated hues of Autumn, they reminded 
one of a good, comely mother, surrounded with her bevy of lovely 
daughters, bedecked with green, scarlet or yellow, according to 
the age, taste or caprice of the wearer. A few clumps of tall 
evergreen pines arc intermixed with these trees, along the 
steep cliffs that overhang the south bank of Fall Branch, a small 



67 

stream thiit meanders througli a n;u•ro^v aii-.! i'crlile v;vll(-y v\hicli 
lies on tlio north side of town. 'J'iiis little stream takes its name 
from a cataract, where its jMdIucid watei's are precipitated over 
falls some eight}'- or one hundred foet hiyli, into a deep chasm, 
resembling the deep, narrow bed of the Niagara river, which is 
born of the inosl stupendous and sublime cataract in tlie world. 
Near the falls i-i a deep chasm, or iissiire In t}\o eartli, produced 
no doubt by an earth(|nake, or some great couvnlsion of nature, 
along which pciestrians can walk single tile, from the top of tho 
hill througli tins subterranean passage to tlie foot of the falls. 
.\ny person fond of the marveloiis, or desirous of beijjg reminded 
of tho dark valley of tho shadow of death, ^cnn gratify their 
curiosity. by taking a lonely ramble down this dark, deep descent. 
This cataract and chasm are near tlie railroad depot, northvi-est of 
town. The interest of this little Niagara is greatly enhanced 
during the Spring and Winter freshets, when the accumulated 
waters of Fall Branch leap and thunder over the rocks, throwing 
up foam and spray that fornis a mim.Ic rainbow above the heads 
of the aquatic shrulis and Iiushes that line the banks of the noisy 
streamlet, which laughs and leaps along in tlie sunlight a few 
hundred yards, until it is lost in the placid bosom of the Wabash 
river, which rolls its broad, clear current along the eastern margin 
of tho town. At the Falls, and in the hills around the town, is 
to be found some of the best sand and free stone in the State. A 
few huge specimens, about the si;'.e of an ordinrny court house, 
can be seon lying around on the surfac*} of the ground in several 
places, near the town, as if nature had placed them there to direct 
tho attention of man to the rich quarries that lie imbedded beneath. 
About half a mile below town, surrounded by a broken and 
romantic landscape, is a large mineral spring, whose chalybeate 
waters are but little inferior to the celebrated artesian v/ell at 
Lafayette, which is fast becoming a popular watering place for 
invalids and excursionists. 

An incident occurred while i was boarding with Search in 
Williamsport, in the Winter of 1830, which occasioned no little 
vexation to the landlord and myself, as well as not a little merri- 
ment to tho other boarders and inmates of the house. Front 
childhood I had been subject to v.alking in my sleep. When 
from home, T always made it a point to get a bed to myself, if 



6S 

possible, but never male niDutioa of my somnambulistic predis- 
pDsitio 1 to any on). It so hipp-!:ijl nm night, that our bo.ii\ling 
ho.i-ij WIS so oro.v.hl \v[i\ lo lj";;"-s tliiL, to giva all coinfo.'tabla 
bj Is, it \v.ii .so arraiigii thiL tlu LuiUaly tooic tli3 thi'03 chilJron 
in bol with h3r, an 1 m'.nj host was to lo.lge that night in bed 
with mj — .v'lo ha 1 always a b^A to mysolt' cxjlusivtily. This 
arrang.'mjnt was made, however, entirely v.- ithout my knowledge, 
as 1 had retired to rest early that night, and was far in the land 
of drj.un> bjforj Sjarch got into bed with me. Whether h» 
touched me in getting into bed, or the Bimple stirring of the bed 
clothes disturbed me, I cannot say; but sure it was, "a chauga 
came o'er the spirit of mj'^ dream" from the moment he planted 
himself in bed by my side. I began to dream of a large, two- 
fisted antagonist, approaching me in a menacing manner — drawing 
nearer an I nearer with clenched list, and uplifted arm, while hi* 
piercing black eyes held a steady and hcnd-like gaze upon me. 
I thoaght now was my tiiuj if I struck the first blow; so I let 
drive with all my might and hit my sleeping bed-fellow plumb in 
the eye. A hoiin 1 kicked in the ribs would not have set up a 
mo.-e piteous howl thru did my friead Search. His mingled 
crie.J a:i 1 g.-o.iui startled evciy sleeper in the house, who siuiul- 
taneously sprang upon the floor, crying "What's the matter?" 
'•'Oh! In his ruin J I nu! In iiis pat oat my eye — bursted the ball!" 
Ii' Oil Polyphi.n IS, w i).i Uiy s^ci pa': o.i^ his '^y2 with a shi.-pjayl 
ehaftof pine, ro.ired louder than mine host did on this occasion, 
it was because he was lugger aad had stronger lungs. A light 
v»-as instantly struck — the camphor bottle was hurriedly brought 
— die unfortuniite Search was taken trom the bed and placed. o;i a 
chair by the lire — his eye examiued, and his forehead bathed with 
camplior. Cunningliam and liitchey decided the eye was not put 
out, but was ba lly bruised; and advised that a rotten apple bo 
applied immediately, to prevent the eye turning black. At this 
stage of proceeding, 1 yawned, and affected to wake up — enquired 
what was the matter, uud on being told 1 expressed my surpiiso, 
end unfeigned regiet, for what had happened, liotten apple was 
bound over his eye, and in about an hoar all returned to theii* 
beds. Search crawled into bed with his wife and children for tha 
leaiainder of the nigli:;; and 1 had the whule of the bed to myself. 
During the night the ro'ten apple slipped from his eye, which in 



G9 

tho morning showed a jjurtial eclipse — ami in tlie evening the 
eclipse was ahno3L total — an..l a blai-k ring eujircle I his blood- 
shot eye for at learjt a week. At breakfiist I repeated my legrets, 
an;! apologized in the best manner I could. Little was then said 
to iiu;rcase my moitiflcatioii, or make light of tho landlord's 
misfortune. But before a week passed, the boarders made ficciuent 
allusions to the great eclipse of the sun, whicdi was to take placa 
in a few weeks, and thought that other little ecliuKC might bo 
regardctl as a precursor of the larger that Ava.s to lollow, to call 
oui- attention to the almanac, that Ave might have our pieces of 
smoked glass ready to gaze at the sublime spectacle wiien it made 
its appearance. 



CH AFTER XIII. 



OLD SETTLERS OF CLINTON COUNTY TWELVE MILE PRAIRIE JEFFEB- 

SON, FRANKFORT, AND MICIIIOAN LAID OFF ELECTION OF COUNTT 

OFFICERS FIRST RELIfilOUS MEETING HELD ON THE TWELVE MILB 

PRAIRIE ADVENTURE WITH A SUPPOSED ROBBER IN THE WILDER- 

JIESS. 

Clinton county contains 432 square miles. It was organized in 
1830. Its principal streams arc the middle and south forks of Wild 
Cat, Sugar, and some smaller creeks. Its rich and fertile soil is well 
timbered, with the exception of that portion known as the Twelve 
Mile prairie, the borders of which contained the first settlements 
made in tlie county. Nathan Kirk settled near its cast end, and 
William Clark near its west end, as early as the year 1827, and 
their houses were stopping places for travelers, Indian traders, and 
land huntcr.s for many years. 

It may not be uninteresting to give here a list of the old settlers 
Tvlio resided in Clinton county at the close of the year 1S2S, as 
furnished by one of the number, in whose statements implicit con- 
fidence may be placed. Add to the names of Kirk and William 
Clark, those of Mordicai, McKinsey, Robert Ihnin, William 
Hodgen, John Bunton, Moses Brockman, Eli Armintrout (to 



70 

wliom I am indebted for valuable data relating to the early inhalt- 
itants of Clinton county), David Clark, Elijah Rodgcrs, Petoi- 
Graves, Zabina Bahcock, John Eo8S, David Kilgore, Joseph Hill, 
Charles Usher, George Michael, John Douglass, John B. Doug- 
lass, Isaac D. Armstrong, Matthew Bunnell, Koah Bunnell, Col. 
William Douglass, John Allen, James Allen, Maj. John Bro^vn, 
Samuel McQueen, Samuel Thompson, Elkana TimmniiK, John, 
William and Nicholas Pence, and Christian Good. 

The town of Jefferson was laid off by David Kilgore, in 1830. 
L. B. Stockton surveyed the plat, Clinton then being attached to 
Tippecanoe county for judicial purposes. 

An election for clerk, recorder, and commissioners of the county 
was held at Jefferson, in April, 1830, on which occasion Samuel 
D. Maxwell (nowMayor of the cit}' of Indianapolis) wa.s elected 
clerk, Beal Dorsey recorder, and Joseph'Hil], MordecaiMoKinsey. 
and John Douglass county commissioners. On the 15th day of 
May, 1830, the county seat was located at the town of Frankfort, 
where it has ever since remained. 

The following September the town of Michigan was laid off by 
Joseph Hill and Robert Edwards. 

At the August election in 1830, William Douglass was elected 
probate judge, and Samuel Mitchell and John Ross associate 
judges. Solomon Young and Perry S. Timmons received an equal 
number of votes for the office of sheriff; lots were cast, andYoung 
succeeded in getting the oflice. 

The Indians were quite plenty for several years after the first 
settlement of the county — the Twelve Mile prairie being a resort 
for hunting parties of various tribes until 1830-31. 

The first sermon preached in the county was delivei-ed at the 
cabin of David Clark, on the Twelve Mile prairie, in 1828, by a 
local Methodist preacher, named Joel Dolby, who was working 
for Clark at the time; and it was said that he split his thousand 
rails a day, out of timber that was drawn into the prairie in lina 
for a fence. It was a novel and refreshing sight to see the peoplo 
flocking in from every direction for eight or ten miles around, to 
hear this laborious man of G od proclaim the everlasting gospel to 
the dwellers in the wilderness, many of v.'hom had not heard a 
sermon for several long years before. Some families came in 
ox-carts, some in wagons drawn bv horses, and others on foot. 



71 

There was then no waste of perfunicry, nor patent leather. J'eoplc 
then looked more to the nsefnl and suhstantial than to display. 
Cigars and brandy had not then enamored the fast young men of 
our largest towns, much less the rural population of hackwoodfl 
Clinton. 

While making mentitm of the Twelve IMile prairie and its early 
■ettlers, it reminds me of an incident which a young friend of 
mine related to me on his return from Eaton, Ohio, during the 
Summer of 18P)8, which 1 will give as nearly in the w^ords of the 
narrator as possible: "I left Lafayette after Lreakfast, with a 
single horse and buggy, carrying my saddle and riding bridle 
with me in the buggy, to use in case 1 might need them on the 
road, or after arriving in Ohio. J drove leisurely, and stopped at 
Sims' store in Jefferson, Clinton county, and wrote a letter back 
containing some business directions I had forgotten to give before 
leaving in the morning. During my short stay iu the store, 
vai-ious customers passed in and out, as usual, and among them 
were two or three suspicious looking individuals, who examined 
my liorse and buggy as closely as if they contemplated buying 
them. Of their conduct, liowever, I thought but little until the 
next morning. Soon after J loft Shoemaker's tavern, which 
•tood near the middle of the Twelve Mile prairie, I overtook a 
young man dressed in a blue surtout cloth coat, black pants and 
white hat, riding a fine looking bay marc, apparently five or six 
years old. After passing the ordinary salutations, he aslced me if 
1 was traveling far on that road. ] replied that I expected to go 
beyond Indianapolis. He said we would be company — tliat he 
was going to Ohio, and as he had never traveled the road before, 
he was glad to fall in Avith company. J was surprised at this 
announcement, for 1 supposed he lived in the neighborhood, as he 
carried no port-manteau, overcoat, nor umbrella, had no girth to 
his saddle, nor were there any shoes on tlie animal he was riding. 
There was nothing about himself nor the beast he was riding, thai 
indicated travel. I thought at times that he looked like one of 
the young men 1 saw in Jefferson the previous evening. He 
denied, however, being there when 1 passed through, and said he 
had stayed all night with an old acquaintance a few miles east of 
that town. We had not proceeded over a mile or tv/o together 
until we overtook an old acquaintance of miue, who lived in the 



neigliLoihood, walking the snmc direction avc were traveling. I 
invited liim to ride willi me in the Li^ggy, ar.d he readily accepted 
m}'' invitation. The fii.st private op} ortrnity he l.ad, he a^lced 
me if 1 hnew the person who was riding the ;;ninial, llien a few 
rods in advance of us. 1 answered in the nogalive. 'AYherc does 
he ^ay he is going?' encjuired my friend. 1 told liiin that he said 
he was going to Ohio. 'He is not going to Ohio,' continned my 
friend; 'bcv^-are of liim, for he is a suspicious fellow, who has 
"been loite]ing aiound here for seveial weeks, for no good, 1 fear.' 
I told him that I had been soimding him for the last half hour, 
and had come to the conclusion, fioni the account he gave of 
himself, tliat he was not altogetlier right. lie was either very 
fond of gasconade, or was a villain. My friend tiicir cautioned 
me again to hcware of him — that he thought he liad seme design 
npon me, or upon my hoise and buggy — that likely he would 
follow me into the wilderness, and theie attack me, assisted by 
confederates, who, peihaps, Avere to meet him in the Black swamp» 
a desolate region lying between Kiiklin and the village of Boxley, 
on the Stiawtown load. I told my frieird that I had no weapons. 
He advised me to get a pistol, or knife, or Loth, before I attempt- 
ed to cross the wilderness; and that, if he were in my place, under 
the circumstances, he would change the route, and take the Mich- 
igan road through Indianapolis, rather than go through the 
wilderness alone, or in company with this stranger. After my 
friend left us, the niair on horseback related his horse-racing 
exploits in Missouri. He said the mare he was riding was a singe 
cat. That within the three previous years he had won large sums 
of money by running her against some of the swiftest race nags 
of Missouri and Hlinois, 1 told him I had no doubt but that she 
was swift, but that I thought my old buggy horse. Proctor, could 
b^at her on a race of one mile; and if he v.-as willing, Ave would 
stop right there in the prairie, and I would take him out of the 
harness and run him against his mare one mile, and whoever won 
the race Avas to have both animals. I made this banter merely to 
hluff him, and check his vaunting, Avhich it did in short order. 
On arriving at Wynkoop's tavern in Kirklin, I stopped aAvhile, 
in Older to avoid the company of my fellow traveler, but lie also 
stopped, and appeared determined to stick Avith me. I told Mr. 
"Wynkoop, privately, that I did not fancy the company of mj 



73 

new acquaintance — that I liad been cautioned to beware of liini, 
and would be glad to purchase, or borrow, a pair of pistols to 
protect myself in case ho should attack nio ou the v/ay. ^Ir. W. 
had no weapons that would suit iny purpose. 

The stranger t;aid the wiluCi-ncss route by Strawtown was 
much nearer, and a better road, than we would have if we went 
round by Indianapolis. 1 knew it to be the nearest and best 
route to where i was going, besides I had business near Straw- 
town that ca!lc;i nie that way, but I did not like my company. 
The thought of being driven out of my course by that impudenfc 
fellow, annoyed nie very much. I finally concluded to run the 
risk of danger on the wilderness road, thinking that in a rough- 
and-tumble combat, if any such thing should happen, I would 
be a full match for my fellow traveler. We had not got three 
miles in the wilderness before there was a marked change in the 
demeanor of the horseman, whose bearing became nioie insolent 
and imperious. It was evident that he intended mischief. I 
detected him casting glances at the horse and buggy, and then at 
me, as if in doubt in what marmer to make an attack. He 
occasionally checked up liis horse and reined it over towards the 
side of the road occupied by me. I told him to trot ahead, and I 
would keep up with him. He would trot along for a few rods 
briskly, but soon showed a disposition to lag back, and try again 
to get behind me, which I was determined he should not do, if I 
could prevent it. After my speaking several times earnestly and 
rather sharply, for him to keep ahead, he at length dashed ofif 
Bome distance along the road, evincing by his manner that hewass 
in an ill humor. I saw him take something from the breast 
pocket of his coat, the shadow of which upon the ground resem- 
bled a pistol, upon which I saw him, as I thought, put a percussion 
cap. He placed it back in his pocket, and drew out another 
instrument of some kind, which he examined and then placed 
back again. He soon lull beliind mo, in spite of all my remon- 
Btrances. I dashed ahead of him in a brisk trot, watching him 
as I passed. After stopping until I had got some hundred yards 
in advance of him, he raised himself in his stirrups, adjusted his 
coat skirts around him, then clenching the reins and mane firmly 
with his left hand, he came dashing up behind mo at full gallop. 
T checked up my horse suddenly and turned round, facing him. 



74 

ftt the samj lime 1 unwound the blanket from around the horn of 
my Spanish saddle, which I intended to grasp and hold up before 
me as a shield to ward off his bullets in case he fired at me. Hi» 
eye caught sight of the black crooked horn or knob of my saddle, 
as it protruded above the blanket, which he took for the butt of a 
horseman's pistol, and instantly dashed off on the opposite side 
of the road, and sped by me at full speed, looking as black in tho 
face as a thunder cloud. I saw the magical effect of the saddle 
knob, and hurriedly covered it over with the blanket, to keep up 
the impression that 1 had a pair of horseman's pistols wrapped in 
the blanket. From that time his ferocity seemed to abate, and he 
was more docile and civil in his language and manners. When 
we arrived at the town of Boxley, 1 stopped for dinner, and 
invited him to stop, but he declined, saying that he v/ould prese 
on, as he was anxious to get beyond Strawtown that night. I 
did not insist, and he passed on. On resuming my journey, 1 
was on tha look out, lest my forenoon companion might be 
secreted beliind some large tree near the road, and might fire upon 
me from ambush. 1 enquired of the travelers and movers whom 
I met, if they had seen a man answering the description of him, 
who I described minutely. I found that he had passed along the 
road for about three or four miles east of Boxley, and then turned 
out into the woods. I continued to enquire for him until I 
reached White river, but never afterAvards heard of him. I do 
not know, nor pretend to say, whether he really had any intentioa 
to try to rob me in the Black swamp, or whether he acted as he 
did to increase my fears, which I doubt not he plainly perceived. 
Be that as it may, I think in the end he was full as fearful of me 
as I was of him, and he was willing to quit, and call it a draw 
2:ame. 



Cf^ AFTER XiV 



&P0LOCJV FOH WANT OK UOOM NATURAL SCENEKY OV THj: Ti'ABASn 

TAT.I.EY LARGE ORCHARDS OF CRAB APPLE AND WILD IT.UM BUSHES 

FLOCKS OF AVII,D GEESF, DUCK?!, CRANES AND OTHER WATHR 

FOWL? WILD KRCnrs, KUTS AND KEURIES WOLVES AND WOLF 

KHNT; SNAKlCs, ANii MAXNKR OF J^vESTROYINn SNAKE DEH8. 

1 regret tiiat a want of spac.*/ ccmpels ine to abandon my 
■original plan, wliich was to continue on with a list of the old 
Rettlers of Boone, Carroll, White, Cass, Miami and other countieis 
of the upper Wabash, to do which I find would far exceed the 
limits of thisi little volume, i ;-:halj, ho'.vever, notice incidents 
connected with the early Fcttlenicnt of these counties, as well as 
Cithers pituatcd near tlicm. Having had l>ut little personal 
Acquaintance with what might bo teinied the lower Wabash 
country, lyin^f south of VerniilUon aud Parke counties, it could 
iiot be expected that I v.'ould have many "Iiecollections" of that 
beautiful, fertile and prosperous portion of the Wabash valley. 

The natural scenery of the Waba.sh valley, as it was found by 
the first settlers, although not bluffy and broken, was nevertheless 
beautiful and picturesque. Hills and dales, forests and prairies, 
p-ottos, rivulets and rivers, checkered and diversified every portion 
of it. 

It was in the month of April \vheu 1 first saw the Wabash 
river. Its- green banks were lined with the lichest verdure. 
Wild flowers intermingled with the tall grass that nodded in 
tlie passing breeze. Nature seemed clothed in her bridal robe. 
Blossoms of the wild plum, hawthorn and red-bud made the air 
redolent. The notes of the black-bird and blue-jay rain<'"led with 
the shrill cry of the king-fisher, river-gull and speckled loon. 
On the points of the islands, cr-^jncs and herons were carrying on 



76 

piscatorial adventures amonii the unwary niinnies that had 
venUirod into the coves that indented the ishands. Lar^e flcdcs 
of wihl trecse, brants, and duck;-), occasionally jjassed over head, 
or would light down into the bayous and hold a general carnival. 
It was ]-are sport for tho young Niinrods of tho neighborhood to 
fix up their "blinds" around those duck ponds, and "bag" inoro 
game than they could cany home at a load. School-i of tishes — 
salmon, bass, red-horse, and pike — swam close along the shoro, 
catching at the blossoms of the red-bud and plum that floated on 
the siirface of the water, which was so clear that myriads of the 
finny tribe could be seen darting hither and thither amidst (ho 
limpid element, turning up their silvery sides as they sped out 
into deeper water. 

Perhaps no country ever produced a greater variety of wild 
fruits and berries. The wide fertile bottom lands of the AVabash, 
in many places presented one continuous orchard of wild plum 
and crab-apple bushes, overspread with arbors of the different 
varieties of the woods grape, wild hops, and honeysuckle fantasti- 
cally wreathed together. One bush, or cluster of bushes, often 
presenting the crimson plum, the yellow crab-apple, the bluo 
luscious grape, festoons of matured wild hops, mingled with tho 
red berries of the clambering sweet-briar, that bound them all 
lovingly together. (Joqseberries and strawberries were the first 
gathered by the early settlers. They were soon succeeded bjr 
blackberries, dev/berries and raspberries, which grew thickly in 
the fence corners, in the woods, and in the vicinity of clearings 
and fallen timber. In more sterile, sandy regions were to be found 
the huckleberry, whortleberry, and in wet and marshy districts 
cranberries grew in great abundance. The cranberry marshes, in 
many portions of northwestern Indiana, are of great value — 
furnishing vast amounts of berries, which are gathered at tho 
proper season and shipped to the various markets for hundreds of 
miles around. Pond Grove, in Tippecanoe county, is a valuablo 
property to its owner, furnishing large crops of this excellent 
berry, which is a staple article in tho culinary calendar of the 
best hotels and private families. 

Black walnuts, butter nuts, hickory and liazel nuts grew iu 
great profusion throughout the Wabash countjy. A few pcr- 
nimmon bushes and apple trees, planted no doubt by the French 



77 

and luilians, were for.mi growinij near Iho old Indian town on tho 
north side of the Wea praiide, above the month oI'lnLlian creek. 
Between le;rc Haute and Viuc;enue.s, and bei.\veen the latter placa 
an I the nioudi of tlio Wabash, pjeanand chestnut trees in many 
pla.'cs we.'c ({ulto comnioa. These mii.s wore gathered and hulled 
hy (he juveniles i:i the Fall, and cracked ai'ound the cabin hearth 
during the long Winter nigiiLs, wdiile the father and mother 
voa'arse I to their listening children the stirring ineideuts that 
transpired duidng their cluldhood on the Monongaliela, Scioto, or 
in old Kentuek. 

Were I to stop here, after describing the "deep tangled wild- 
wood," divorsi'iGd with hills and dales, brooks and rivers, and 
the delicious wild fruits and berries that everywhere grov/ in our 
pieturosquG and fertile Wabash vn.H?y, and in the langnago of 
America's great poet, were to allude to the 

<;artl(!ii.s of 'ho <!o.-:oi t, 
Tliu u'lsli 'ni ii(>l's, b.)ii:iiU '.ss -.x-.'l lK'Mu!ii"u! — 
Fur uliicli llie >]).ci:!i of iOiig'p.'.i'I li is iiu luime — 

the prairies — and were then to leave them mantled in the verdura 
and sunlight that originally invested them, my work would ba 
uuHnished. 

Tire gofer and the j)rai)'ie-hawk, the wolf and the rattlesnake, 
witli the many other drawbacks that surrounded and annoyed our 
early settlers, should be adverted to. 

l>la-jk, grey and piaiiie wolves were quite numerous, and in 
many localities it was next to impossible to raise sheep or pigs 
until they had been hunted out. The Legislature enacted laws 
granting a bounty on wolf scalps, .sufficient to stimulate a more 
active and thorough extermination of these noi.-^y screnaders, who 
wouhl often approach within a lew rods of the cabin, and mako 
night hideous with their prolonged howling. WoU hunts were 
then common, in which tlie inhabitants of several neighborhoo.ls, 
and sometimes of a whole county, took part. Tiiey were usr.ally 
conducted in the iollowing manner: The territory to be hunted 
over was eircumsciibed by lour lines, sufficiently distant from 
each other to enclose the proper area. To each line was assigned 
a captain, witii his subaltern ofliceis, whose duty it was to propcily 
station his men along the line, and aL the hour agreed upon to 
cause them to advance in order towards the centre of the arena. 
Tne lines all charged siuiultancously towards the centre, ou 



78 

horseback, with dogs, guns and clubs, thus completely investing 
whatever game was within the lines, and scaring it from the 
advancing lines toward the centre, where the excitement of the 
chase was greatly heightened, and the greatest carnage ensued. 
Often from tvf o to ten wolves and as many deer were taken in a 
day at these hunts, and wildcats, foxes and catamounts in 
abundance. Horses and dogs soon became fond of the sport, and 
seemed to enter into it with a zest surpassing that of their masters. 
Solomon Slayback lost a fine horse in a wolf hunt, near Pond 
Grove, in early times. McDonald's celebrated charger, Selim, 
that horo his gallant master in many a charge against the British 
cavaliy, In the Revolutionary war, was Bcarceiy a more nohl© 
animal. Sol's horse went thundering along a few rods in tha 
rear of a prairie wolf, and -a full half mile ahead of every other 
horseman, when he plunged one of his fore legs into a wolf hole, 
which wa.s partially concealed in the grass, turned a summerset, 
iiuappcd his ]vg below the knee, and threw his rider several rods 
in the grass. The wolf escaped. Slayback escaped without any- 
serious bodily harm, but the noble horse's leg was eo badly frac- 
tured that recovery was deemed impossible, and he was killed to 
put him out of his misery. 

There was another subtle and dangerous enemy to the early 
inhabitants, that legislative enactments could not reach, and the 
most cautious vigilanoa of the settler could not guard against. 
The "snake in the grass," in ail its fearful varieties, were not 
(mly common, but exceedingly numerous in the country. Besides 
the rattlesnake, viper, adder, and blood-snake, there were a great 
many large blue and green snakes in the prairie distjicte,. quit© 
saucy and pugnacious, that delighted to give chase to new-comers, 
and frighten them by their hostile attitudes and convolutions. If 
you v/ould retreat, they would chase you like a regular black 
racer; but if you would turn and give them battle, they would 
immediately retreat with all possible speed, glide ofi" into the 
grass, and wait for a "greener customer" to pass along, whea 
they would again dart out at him as if they were boa-constrictors, 
determined to take their prey. These snakes were harmless, but 
served to put people upon their guard for their more dangeroujn 
and venomous relatives, whopo poisonous fangs were greatly 
dreaded by all. 



71) 

William liobinson, J'^Fq., during tlie early settlement on tho 
Little Wea, was bitten l^}- a rattlesnake, and although every 
remedy v/ithin reach of his friends was applied, he died of tho 
wound. William Key, who lived in Wahash township, west of 
Lafayette, was also bitten hy a rattlesnake, and vsms cured by the 
immediate and constant application of tho usnal antidote in fiuch 
cases. 

Many persons, in ditf'erent .sections of the country, beside a still 
larger number of cattle anil horses, during every Summer, suffered 
from tho poisonous fangs of these venomous reptiles, which 
infested every portion of the country. Karly in tho Spring, and 
lato in tho Fall, certain localities seemed to teem with these scaly 
monsters, while other places became comparatively free from 
them, which induced the belief that they took up their Winter 
quarters near those places where they asscmljIcJ late in the Fall. 
Strict search was instituted, and in the Spring of 1827-28, two 
snake dens were discovered in the vicinity of Lafayette — one in a 
deep ravine about half a mile west of Lafayette, where the road 
ascends tho hill going to Iviugston, and the other on the north 
tide of the Lig Wea creek, near ]5ear's spring, about one-half 
milo northeast of Foresman's mill. As soon as it v/as certainly 
known tliat tlicse dens existed beyond doubt, word was &cnt 
through the difforent neighborhoods for the citizens to meet at 
those dens on certain days mentioned in the notice, with mattocks, 
spades and crow-bars. U the clefts in the rocks were such that 
tho snakes could be dug out, they went to work, and after break- 
ing through their subterranean citadel, brought out scores of torpid 
rattlesnakes, and "bruised their heads" into a pummico, and left 
them to be devoured of hogs. Some of the fattest were taken 
homo, and gallons of oil extracted from their carcasses; and their 
glittering skins carefully saved to euro rheumatism, and other 
chronic disorders, for which they were deemed a wonderful 
gpecific. If the digging process was found to be impracticable, 
stakes were driven in the ground close to each other, three or four 
feet high, enclosing a suOicient area around the hole to admit of 
a large egress of the reptile tribe benc^ath. One end of a lone- 
polo was placed on a line of picketing, while the other end of thia 
horizontal shaft or lever formed a right angle with another short 
perpendicular sh.aft, the lower end of v/hich was 'j)laccd immedi- 



8D 

atc]y over the hole in such a nianuer that, upon hoisting the 
otlier end of the lever, by pulling on a long grapevine attached 
to the cud of" the same, this sharpened perpendicular slialt was 
thrust into the hole, stopping it as couiplelcly as a cob would 

Alter thus setting their trap, the snake-hunters left with tho 
understanding that all hands were to meet at the den the next 
■warm, sunny day, after the garter-snakes Avere first seen on tho 
sunny side of the hills. At the time appointed the inhabitants 
for many miles around met at the selected place. If the weather 
had been sufficiently Avarm and balmy to draw out a lai ge number 
of snakes to bask in the sun, the grapevine was pulled, the lever 
sprung, the hole stopped, and the snakes belabored with hoop 
poles and bludgeons prepared for the purpose, and thus hundrcda 
were entrapped and killed in a day. 

A few years of snake-killing in this wholesale manner, com- 
paratively rid the coiantry of tlicse dangerous sopents; and it is 
only once in a great while that one of these large, black and yello\r 
suttlcsnakes are to be seen. 



CHAPTER XV. 



FIRST QUARTERLY MKF.TING OF THE METHODISTS AT LAFAYETTE 

JOHN STRANGE AND JAMES ARMSTRONG MTERA!!Y SOCIETIES Oli" 

LAFAYETTE LECToRES ON FLUNKEVISM CAPTAIN 1*:UCe's CLASS 

IN MNEMONICS. 

The first quarteily meeting of the Methodist Episcopal church 
held in Lafayette, met in a log cabin, long afterward used by I'^li 
Huntsinger as a wheel w right shop, which stood on tlic comei- of 
Mississippi and Ferry streets, witliiu a (cw rods of the chapel of 
the Western Charge of the Methodist church. 

James Armstrcnig was the circuit riiler, and John Strang^ pro- 
Biding elder. The district then euibraeod western Indiana, which 
cxtendcl fiom the Ohio liver northward to the lakes, and tho 
circuit was scarcely less extensive. 



81 

Those able and beloved ministers of the gospel, with a self- 
Hacrificing devotion to the spiritual interests of their flocks, made 
it a point never to fail meeting their congregations, however small 
in point of niunbers, when it was possible to prevent it. The 
circuit rider liad published the time and place of the quarterly 
meeting for more than a month, and many of the Methodist and 
other denominations scattered throughout the sparsely settled 
neighborhoods of the country, had assembled with the few church 
members who resided in Lafayette, to Avorship the Almighty, and 
cultivate and strengthen the bonds of social society. Besides 
public preaching, and the transaction of the biuiincss of the 
quarterly conference, a Love Feast w^as held, according to the 
usages of the society, and the Lord's Supper was administered in 
a solemn and appropriate manner. 

Armstrong, who was an eloquent andpopular preacher, beloved 
by all who knew him, addressed the meeting with happy effect; 
and Strange, a man of surpassing personal beauty, piety and 
eloquence, conducted the services of the Eucharist. 

While Strange was addressing the communicants bowed around 
the altar, and in the most soothing and encouraging language 
pointed them to Christ as the "Lamb of God that taketh away 
the sins of the world," a group of giddy, thoughtless young men 
sat near the door, whose looks and actions denoted a spirit of 
levity wholly incompatible with the solemn ceremonies transpiring 
before them. Strange for awhile seemed to take no notice of 
their whispering, and throwing hazel nut hulls over the floor, 
but continued to address the communicants in the most gentle and 
touching manner; and then he started up suddenly, as if awaking 
from a reverie, and said: "Did I say Christ was the Lamb of God? 
— he is, to the humble, penitent believer; but to you," (pointing 
back with his long, bony finger toward the young men near the 
door,) "to you, sinner, arouse him, and he is the Lion of the 
tribe of Judea; and by the slightest exertion of his omnific finger, 
could dash you deeper into damnation than a sunbeam could fly 
in a million of ages!" The effect was electrical. The transition 
from the gentle and pathetic to the stern and terrible, was so 
sudden and unexpected, that one of the young men said ho felt 
bis hair instantly raise on end, and that he was going with the 
Telocity of thought toward the doleful regions so eloquently and 



82 

fearfully alluded to in this impromptu and brilliant flash of 
rhetoric, which equalled the most sublime flights of Bridaine, 
Bascom, or Simpson. 

Armstrong, Strange, and the most of those who were present 
at that quarterly meeting, have passed to that "bourne from 
whence no traveler returns." A few only of those who partook 
of the Eucharist on that occasion linger among us. The young 
gentleman who was the leader of the disturbers near the door that 
evening, and felt that he was flying through space to Pandemo- 
nium swifter than Milton's "Arch Angel Ruined" ever did, still 
lives in Lafayette, and is now a worthy and exemplary member 
of church. When I see his grey head, as he moves around town, 
with his hair standing ala Jackson, I secretly wonder whether it 
is natural for his hair to resemble the "fretful porcupine," or 
whether it was not caused by the electric ehock of Strange'* 
potent eloquence. 

It was my design originally to have given a somewhat lengthj 
notice of the organization and progress of the various churches 
and schools, as well as the several literary societies that from tiraa 
to time flourished in Lafayette — beginning as far back as th9 
debating society held in the old couri ho ise, which was organized 
and attended by 0. L. Clark, Joseph Tatman, Albert S. White, 
Wm. M. Jenners, John Pettit, Thomas B. Brown, John B, 
Semans, Samuel A. Huff, David Jennings, John D. Farmer, 
Ezekiel Timmons, Cyrus Ball, David Ross, John Taylor, William 
F. Reynolds, N. H. Stockwell, Sandford C. Cox, John D. Smith, 
Dr. Jackson, and various others, whose names will appear hj 
reference to the archives of the venerable institution. 

But a mere glance at the many interesting incidents that mighfc 
be adverted to, admonishes me that such a course would lead mo 
beyond the restricted limits of these pages. I must content 
mvself with a brief allusion to the several literary societies and 
clubs that successively flourished in Lafayette. 

Mr. Town's grammar school succeeded the debating club abov» 
alluded to, and at its close the Tippecanoe county lyceum was 
inaugurated, which was largely attended by the literati, male and 
female, of the village and surrounding country, and was a pleasant 
and profitable institution for several years. But pork, grain and 
beef, and commerce generally, got the upper hand of literatur<^ 



83 

and the lyceum, which had many members and honorary mem ber» 
posHessing the liuest order of talents, Avho have since filled high, 
and honorable stations in the various departments of life, was 
suffered to languish and expire. 

The lyceinn was succeeded by the "Hard Knot," a literary 
association composed of the most ardent and devoted members of 
the i'ormer societies, who were determined that a Philomathean 
spirit should not entirely die out in our tov>'n. i>uring the hum 
and bustle of commerce, while our little city was the focal point 
of a circle of trade that extended for fifty or one hundred miles 
around, this little society worked as a leven, preparing community 
for the Franklin Club, which flourished several years, and 
appeared for awhile as the Phoenix which sprung from the ashea 
of the old lyceum. In a few years the majority of the members 
©f this popular society relapsed into their former commercial 
habits, and grain, pork, canals, railroads, and banks and banking 
were the all-absorbing topics. Only a few real mourners followed 
the corpse of this society to its grave. 

About this time, with the expanding fortunes of some worthy 
citizens of our growing town, there appeared to be mixed a slight 
leven of aristocracy, which some feared might in time, if not 
checked, create heart-burnings and jealousies in the community^ 
by establishing castes and grades in social life, based more upon 
wealth than merit. 

Innovation, though in silver slippers, excited not only the 
distrust, but the marked opposition, of a majority of our citizens, 
and among them many of the most able and influential inhabitants 
of the place. A course of lectures on Fhinkeykm, delivered to 
large and admiring audiences, by one who knew how to deal in 
the most scalding sarcasm, completely cured the growing distem- 
per, and it is now thought by good judges that our community 
has never since been afflicted with the slightest symptoms of that 
bogus aristocracy, which is prone to steal into pantalette towns, 
villages, and even rural districts, if not carefully guarded against, 
and nipped in the bud. 

These lectures were succeeded by the Moot Legislature of La- 
fayette, a large and interesting body, which numbered over on» 
hundred members, and was conducted with an ability that would 



84 

not have been discreditable to the real Legislature of tbe State for 
two or three consecutive Winters. 

While in this connection it would be proper to allude to Capt. 
Price's class in Mnemonics, or the art of memory, in which he 
proposed in a course of eight lectures, to learn his pupils to mem- 
orise and repeat fifty or more of the hardest words that could be 
propounded, by simply naming them over once. He assured 
them, also, that they would be able to repeat them in their exact 
order, from the first to the fiftieth; and then pass over them 
backwards from No. 50 to No. 1, without miscalling a word in. 
their regular order. The Captain further assured his class, that he 
would not only teach them to recollect and recall backward and 
forward in its numerical order, but also to answer correctly the 
word at every number as soon as the number was called for. 

He succeeded beyond all expectations, and on the fourth even- 
ing had learned his class so that the dullest member could repeat 
over one hundred of the hardest words, by the power of associa- 
tion. The whole class graduated simultaneously, and dismissed 
the learned professor with a vote of thanks, and a written certifi- 
cate of his marvelous powers as a teacher of the science of 
mnemonics. 

Upon the demise of the Franklin Club, a new society sprung 
up, in which there was a spirited contest as to what name it 
should have. Many and various were the names proposed, all 
quite classic and significant, any of which would have been 
appropriate enough, but so fastidious were its members in regard 
to the name, and each one was so prepossessed in favor of the 
particular cognomen proposed by himself, that like many a dar- 
ling infant, it went a long time before a name good enough for it 
could be found and adopted. At length, after a month of weekly 
and semi-weekly meetings of the society, at all of which the 
name was the great cardinal point discussed, some astute member 
hit upon the word IlocofeUo. It had a classic jingle in it, and 
struck the ears of a majority favorably. It was voted upon and 
adopted as the name of the Club. 

After while some of the members desired to know the meaning 
of the word Hocofelto, and hinted that it might be proper for a 
band of Philomatheans to be able to explain the meaning of the 
term used to designate the name of their society, even were it dug 



85 

up from the learned rubbish of a defunct literature. The member 
who proposed the name was called upon for a definition of the 
word. He declined giving it. Lexicons and Donnegons were 
carefully examined by experts in the learned languages, but no 
clue could be got to the etymology of the extraordinary word that 
had been adopted as the name of the society. The most erudite 
of the society felt deeply chagrined that this name had been adopt- 
ed with such imprudent haste, before its signification, if it had 
any, had been ascertained. Had the society been dubbed Hifalu- 
tin, Ompompanoosuc, or any such high-sounding term, that would 
have had some specific meaning, they could have borne it better. 
But as the society had been progressing publicly for several 
weeks under this truly abstruse name, it was thought best not to 
change it; that the enigma of the name would secure the profound 
admiration of a gaping world, who, as some ill-natured philoso- 
phers have intimated, are prone to admire and venerate that which 
is above their comprehension. So every member redoubled his 
efforts to carry out the laudable objects for which the society had 
been organized, and add another proof to the world that "the 
rose Avould smell as sweet by any other name." All acted upon 
the wise suggestion, and though, on the subject of the name, they 
were as grave and sombre as a squad of Sons of Malta,' the Hoco- 
felto Club flourished for many years, and w as excelled in usefulness 
and longevity by none of its predecessors, with the single excep- 
tion of the. Hard Knot, which will ever remain enshrined in the 
memories of its members as long as the vital current courses 
through their veins. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



BLACK HAWK WAR SAC VILLAGE AT THE MODTH OF ROCK RIVEU 

FORT ARMSTRONG BLACK HAWK's TOWER FIRST BATTLH 

TROOP3 MARCH FROM LAFAYETTE AND OTHER POINTS. 

In tlic Spring of 1832, the renowned Sac Chief, Black Havvk, 
tind his follov^^ers, were unwilling to leave the lands on tho 
eastern bank of the Mississippi, which had been ceded to tho 
United States by treaty with the Saes and Foxos — held at Prairio 
du Chien in July, 1830. 

Black Hawk's headquarters were at the Sac village, at tho 
mouth of Rock river, almost within cannon shot of Fort Arm- 
strong, on Rock Island, where General Atkinson was then 
stationed with several companies of United States troops. 

A short distance above the mouth of Rock river may yet be 
seen the celebrated point or eminence known as ''^Black Hawk's 
Tower," a bald and lofty peak of the Rock river hills, near the 
bridge on the road leading from Camden to Rock Island. From 
the top of a tree that stood upon the apex of this peak, the old 
Sachem and his spies w^ere wont to overlook the Mississippi and 
Rock rivers, and their valleys, for many miles distant, from 
whence they could descry the approach of an enemy by land or 
water, long before they could obtain a dangerous proximity. 

General Atkinson at first expostulated with the Indians — told 
them that their rashness would result in great injur}'- to them- 
selves — that the United States had purchased the lands by a fair 
treatjr, and would maintain their title at every hazard;, and that 
it would be folly in the extreme for Black Hawk and his malcon- 
tents to attem^it to oppose our government troops, which were as 
numerous as the leaves of the forest. The implacable old Chief 
turned a deaf car to every kind overture, and was determined to 



87 

take up the tomahawk to maintain the pcsHCHsion of the homo of 
his childhood, and the soil that contained tlie graves of liis ances- 
tors. 

Dreading the hlow that Gen. Atkinson medilatcd giving liim 
with his reguhars, and a few companies of militia which had been 
liastily called together, Black riav,-k withdrew up the Rock river, 
with his forces, passing through the Wiunehago swamps, causing 
great alarm among the frontier settlers. 

Governor Reynolds, of Illinois, issued a stirring call to the 
people of his State to take up arms, which was responded to by 
large companies of volunteer militia, from various portions of the 
Btate. On the 14th of May, a detachment of over two hundred 
men, commanded by Major Stillman, attacked an inferior number 
of Indians on Sycamore creek, about thirty miles from Dixon's 
Ferry on Rock river, but wore compelled to retire with consider- 
able loss. This was the first action in the Black Hawk war. On 
the clay following. General Whitesides, who was then at Dixon's 
Ferry, hastened to the scene of action with a force of fifteen hun- 
dred men, but was unable to find tlic encm.y. 

The commanding officer at Fort Dearborn, or Chicago, I'-ave 
intelligence that fifteen persons had been murdered on Hickory 
creek, and that the hostile Indians were assembling v/ithin forty 
miles of Chicago. The news flew rapidly in every direction. 

On Sunday morning, the 18th of May, 1832, the people on the 
west side of the Wabash river, were 'thrown into a state of gi'eat 
consternation on account of a report reaching them that a large 
l)o;ly of hootilo Indians had approached within fifteen miles of 
Lafayette, and kilk>d two men. The alarm soon spread through- 
out Tippojanoc, Warren, Vermillio]i, Fountain, Montgomerj^, 
and adjoining counties. Several brave commandants of compa- 
nies on the west side of the WVoash, in Tippecanoe county, 
raisci troops to go and meet the enemy, and dispatched an express 
to General Walker, with a request that ho should make a call 
upon the militia of th.c county, to equip themselves instantcr, and. 
march to the aid of their bleeding countrymen. Thereupon Gen. 
Walker, Col. Davis, Lt. Col. Jenners, Capt. Brown, of the 
artillery, and various other gallant spirits, mounted their war 
steedB and proceeded to the army, and from thence upon a scout 



88 

into tlie Grand prairie, to discover, if possible, the number, situ- 
ation, and intention of the Indians. 

Old men, women and children, to the number of over three 
hundred, flocked precipitately to Lafayette and the surrounding 
country, on the east side of the AVabash river. An incident 
occurred during the general stampede that deserves to be recorded: 

A Mr. D , who, with his wife and seven children, resided on 

the edge of the Grand prairie, west of Lafayette, in a locality 
considered as particularly dangerous, made hurried preparations 
to fly with his family to Lafayette for safety. Imagine his sur- 
prise and chagrin, when his "better half" told him that she would 
not go one step — that she did not believe in being scared at trifles, 
and that in her opinion there was not an Indian within one hun- 
dred miles. Importunity proved unavailing, and the disconsolate 
and scared husband and father gathered up all the children except 
the babe, and bid his wife and infant child a long and solemn 
adieu, never expecting to see them again, unless perhaps he 
might find their mangled remains, minus their scalps. On arriving 
at Lafayette, his acquaintances rallied and berated him for aban- 
doning his wife and child in the hour of peril; but he met their 
jibes with a stoical indifference, averring that he should not be 
held accountable for her obstinacy. As the shades of evening 
drew on, Mrs. D. felt lonely, and the chirping of the frogs and 
notes of the whippoorwill increased her loneliness, until she half- 
way wished she had accompanied the rest of the family in their 
flight. After staying a few hours in the house without striking a 
light, she concluded that perhaps the old adage, "discretion is the 
better part of valor," was true, she arose, took some bed clothes 
off of one of the beds, passed out, fastened the cabin door, and 
hastened with her babe on her bosom to a sink-hole in the woods, 
some few hundred yards from the house, in which she said that 
she and her babe in the woods slept soundly until sunrise the 
next morning. 

The little town of Lafayette literally boiled over with people 
and patriotism, A public meeting was held at the court house. 
Speeches were made by sundry patriotic individuals, and, to allay 
the fears of the women, an armed police was immediately voted, 
to be called the Lafayette Guards. An organization took place 
immediately. Thomas T. Benbridge was elected captain, and 



89 

John Cox lieutenant. Captain Benbritlge yielded the active drill 
of the Guards to his lieutenant, who had served two years in the 
war of 1812. After the meeting at the court house adjourned, 
the Guards were paraded on the green where Purdue's block now 
stands, and put through sundry military evolutions, by Lieut. 
Cox, who proved to be an expert drill officer, whose clear, shrill 
voice rung out on the night air, ^s he marched and countermarched 
the troops from where the paper mill stands to ]\Iain street ferry, 
and over the suburbs generally. Every old gun and sword that 
could be found were brought into requisition, with a new shine 
on them. 

Gen. Walker, Cols. Davis and Jenners, and other commission- 
ed and non-commissioned officers, joined in a call on the people 
of Tippecanoe county, for volunteers to march to the protection 
of the frontier settlers. A large meeting of the citizens assembled 
on the public scpiarc in Lafayette, and over three hundred volun- 
teers, mostly mounted men, left Lafayette for the purpose of 
repairing to the point of danger, with an alacrity that would have 
done credit to veterans. 

They camped the first night about nine miles west of Lafayette, 
near the edge of the Grand prairie. After placing out sentinels 
for the night, the troops retired to rest. A few of the subaltern 
officers, Avithout consulting with their superiors, veiy injudicious- 
ly concluded to try what effect n false alarm would have upon the 
sleeping soldiers, and a few of them, with others initiated into 
the important secret, withdrew to a neighboring thicket, and from 
thence made a charge on the picket guards, who, after hailing 
them and receiving no countersign, fired off their guns, and run 
for the Colonel's marquee in the centre of the encampment. The 
aroused Colonels and their staff, who had been kept in ignorance 
of the ncse, sprung to their feet, shouting "to arms!" "to arms!" 
and the obedient and panic-stricken soldiers seiz;ed their guns, 
and demanded to be led against the invading foe. A wild scene 
of disorder ensued. Amid the din of arms, firing of guns, and 
loud commands of officers, the raw militia felt that they had 
already got into the red jaws of battle. One of the alarmed 
sentinels, in running to the centre of the encampment, leaped over 
a blazing camp fire, and lit full upon the breast and stomach of a 
sleeping counsellor of the law, who was no doubt at that moment 



90 

dreaming of vested and contingent remainders, rich clients and 
good fees — whicli, in legal parlance was suddenly estopped by the 
hob-nails in the stogas of the scared sentinel. As soon as tho 
counsellor's vitality and consciousness sufficiently returned, ho 
put in some strong demurrers to the conduct of the affrighted 
picket-man, averring that he woxild greatly prefer being wounded 
by the enemy, to being run over by a' cowardly booby. 

Next morning the officer in command administered a salutary 
reprimand to the getters-up of the false alarm of the previous 
nigbt — showing the glaring impropriety of such conduct, and the 
bad consequences that might have resulted from such insubordi- 
nation and unmilitary conduct, and gave them plainly to under- 
staftd that if they or others attempted the like again, they might 
expect the most rigorous penalty of a court martial. 

Monday morning an express was received from his Excellency 
Got'ernor Noble, of Indiana, to Brigadier General Jacob Walker, 
approving the measiires adopted by our officers, for the safety and 
repose of our frontiers, and directing him to call out his whole 
command, if necessary, and supply our men with arms, horses, 
and provisions, procuring them by seizure or otherwise. On the 
next day four baggage wagons were dispatched, loaded with camp 
equipages, and such stores, provisions, and other articles as were 
necessary for the comfort and convenience of our fellow citizens 
in arms, who were .amply provided for a tour of five or six weeks. 

Thursday, May 31st, a fine looking squad of mounted men 
from Putnam county, Indiana, commanded by Col. Sigler, passed 
through Lafayette, for the hostile region; and on the 13th of 
June, Col. A. W. Kussell, commandant of the 40th regiment of 
Indiana militia, passed through Lafayette with 340 mounted 
volunteers, from the counties of Marion, Hendricks, and Johnson, 
on their way to the scone of hostilities. Several companies of 
volunteers from Montgomery, Fountain and Warren counties, 
hastened to the relief of the frontier settlers of Indiana and Illi- 
nois. The troops from Lafayette, after marching to Sugar creek, 
and remaining there a few days without finding an enemy, or any 
very strong probability of finding any cast of the O'Plein river, 
wore ordered to return by Gen. Walker. 

The troops all acquiesced, except about forty-five horsemen, 
who filed oif, and said they would form an independent company 



91 

«f volunteers, and would proceed beyond Hickory creek, wliero 
tlie depredations had been committed by the Indians. The com- 
pany ^vas organized by electing Samuel McGeorge, a soldier of 
tho v.'ar of 1812, captain, and Amos Allen and Andrcvv W. 
Tngraham lisutenants. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



eArxAiN r.i'oKonaR M.\r;CUF.s to TirK o'pixix — isuael ii. cox wound- 
ed nKTl^RX OF M'OKORGn's COMPANY GENEUAL SCOTT AND HIS 

TROOPS A?>KIVH AT CHICAGO OHOLERA A5IONO THE TROOPS 

CATT!,K OF THE BT/JE MOUNDS liLACK HAWK DEFEATED OX THE 

BAXK GV THE MlSSISPIPPi HI.=i CAmVlTY AND DEATH. 

In a fiiw hov.r.^ after their orcjanization, Captain J.IcGeorge's 
company proecsdcl on their march toward Hickory creek, deter- 
mined to partake of the dangers and glory of the v>-ar. They 
pressed beyond Hickory creek, as far as the O'Ploin river, with- 
out meeting with any of the hostile Indians. Finding no enemy 
to cneonntcr, they conelndcd to return. On the first night, as 
they returned, i}i2y cncampel ou the open prairie, near a grove 
on Iliekory crCLd:, and placed out sentinels as usual. The night 
v/as dark and cloudy, and it began to rain about ton o'clock, 
rendering it difii^nlt for the sentinels to keep their guns dry. 
Captain Israelii. Cox, and a man by the name of Fox, were 
placed within lifteen or twenty paccs'of each otlier as sentinels, 
by the sergeant of the gnard. Cox wore a shingle-cape overcoat, 
a Bkij't of vs-liioh be drew over liis gr.n lo:::k to keep it dr3% which 
motion Fox perceived, and, taking him for an Indian, fired upon 
him, the ball passing through the belt of his overcoat, striking 
the brass hilt of a dagger which the Captain Avore b}' his side, 
and then glancing downward through the thigh, fracturing the 
Lone. After a moment's pause, several soldiers ran toward the 
phxcc where the (lash of the gun had been seen; but a voice, 
"Don't shoot him — it was a sentinel who shot me!" caused them 



92 

to lower their guns, which were cocked and leveled on the indi- 
vidual who fired the gun. They hurried to the prostrate man, 
whose wound was bleeding profusely, which was soon dressed by 
the surgeon of the company. 

Next morning the surgeon pronounced it improper to attempt 
to take the wounded man along with the company. So he waa 
left behind in care of his two brothers, Joseph and James Cox, 
David Marsh and Joseph Crouch, who, after his wound would 
permit, removed him in a litter to Col. Moore's company of 
Illinois militia, then encamped on the O'Plein, where the town of 
Joliet now stands, Avhcre he remained xmder the treatment of tha 
surgeon of the Illinois troops, until he was able to be hauled 
home in a wagon, which his fiiends caused to be sent for him. It 
was several months before he Avas able to walk without crutches, 
and never entirely recovered from the lameness occasioned by the 
wound. 

While on the subject of accidents which occurred during this 
war, it may not be improper to name tw^o other sad mishaps, that 
cast a gloom over the feelings of their companions in arms. 
"While a company of volunteers were passing through Fountain 
county, on their way to the point of danger, a squad of the rank 
and file discovered a large rattlesnake near the roadside, which 
they forthwith attacked, and just as one of the paily pulled trigger 
to shoot the snake through the head, another of the company 
unluckily sprung across before the muzzle of the gun, receiving 
the rifle ball that was intended for the snake in his ankle, frac- 
turing it badly. 

The other occurred thus: On the night of the return of our 
troops from Sugar creek, Illinois, while Major Milhollen was 
marching the troops around the public square of Lafayette to 
muster them out of service, he commanded them to fire off their 
guns in platoons, in doing which one of the soldier's guns went 
off accidentally, and the paper wad struck Jonathan Tanner, one 
of the volunteers, in the side, producing a deep and dangerous 
wound, which for a long time threatened his life, but from which 
he subsequently recovered, after long confinement and much 
suffering. 

Although the main body of the troops from Lafayette returned 
within eight or nine days, yet the alarm among the people was 



93 

Btich that they conld not bo iuduccd for some time to return to 
tbeir farms, which greatly needed their attention. 

Captain Newell, of Warren county, and twenty-five scouts, 
pressed out as far as Hickory creek, and beyond, and finding no 
enemy, returned just about the time the troops were leaving 
Lafayette. They met Mr. Hazzleton, of Fox river, and Mr. Reed, 
of O'Plein river, who reported that a party of the Illinois militia 
had been engaged vv'ith the Sacs at Rock Lsland, and had been 
defeated; and that the Indian agent at Chicago deemed it advisa- 
ble for the people on Hickory creek to retreat to some place of 
safety; which information Capt. Newell communicated by letter 
addressed to John McCormick, of Lafayette, dated May 23, 1832, 
which letter was published in the Lafayette Free-Press, at that 
time printed and published by Major John B. Semans, an able 
and truthful journalist, who published the pioneer newspaper of 
the upper Wabash, and who enjoyed during his long and pros- 
perous career in public life, the respect and confidence of all who 
knew him. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, 
a true friend, and on his death-bed exemplified the appropriate- 
ness of the words of the poet: 

The chamber where tho good man meets his fate, 
Is privileged beyond tho common walks of lifo, 
Quito in the verge of Heaven. 

Tho writer is under many obligations to Messrs. Luse & Wilson, 
editors and publishers of tho Lafayette Daily Journal, for access 
to old files of tho Free-Press, the oldest newspaper printed in 
western Indiana, from which their weekly and Daily Journal has 
descended in a direct line — the weekly having been a regular and 
continuous newspaper for more than thirty years past. He also 
acknowledges that he has obtained much valuable data by refer- 
once to the pages of the Western Annals, and manuscript letters, 
and other memoranda, furnished by friends. 

Tho frontier settlements of Indiana, from Vincennes to Laporte, 
were rife with war news, and the people were upon the look-out 
for tlio invading foe, whose presence was hourly expected by the 
masses. Even our friends in Clinton county gathered into forts, 
and prepared for a regular siege; while our neighbors at Craw- 
fordsville had their equanimity disturbed, by the arrival of a 
courier who entered the town at full speed, with tho startling 



94 

intelligence that the Indian forces, more than a thousand strong, 
were then actually crossing tlie Nine Mile prairie, about t\velv» 
miles north of town, killing and scalping all before them. Im- 
mediately precautionary measures were taken to protect tli» 
inhabitants, who were hurriedly gathered into the strongosfc 
houses, around which sentinels were placed, as well ag at th,» 
mouths of the streets, ravines, and fords of the river, in th» 
direction of the enemy. Scouts were sent out under the command 
of the bravest and most experienced woodsmen, to reconnoitre, 
and watch the movements of the advancing foe, while others wer» 
detailed in different directions through the country, to inform th» 
population of the rural districts of impending danger, and urging 
them to hasten v/ith their families into town, to assist their fellow 
citizens in combating the hostile sarages, whose whoops thej 
momentarily expected to hear echoing through the dense wooda, 
lying north of Sugar river. Evening caijie, but no Indians, Ai 
nightfall the scouts returned with the news that the Indians had 
not crossed the Wabash, but were hourly expected at Lafayette, 
which was reported to be in a state of siege. The citizens of 
Warren, Fountain, and Vermillion counties were alike terrified 
by the most exaggerated stories of Indian massacres, and assem- 
bled in blockhouses to protect themselves against the hostil* 
bands of invaders, which w^ere carrying dismay and desolatioa 
throughout the country. 

It turned out that these efforts at defence were unnecessarj, 
as the Indians were not within one hundred miles of these tempo- 
rary fortifications. But that circumstance by no means argued a 
want of courage on the part of those who used these precautionary 
measures. They did not know but that there was actual danger, 
and they wisely acted upon the principle that "caution is the 
parent of safety." They were familiar with danger, and the 
bloody tragedies enacted in the early settlement of Kentucky and 
Ohio, were fresh in their memories. There were but few families 
then residing in the west, who had not lost some of their near 
relatives by the hostile Indians. 

A lev; there were, mostly old soldiers, who insisted that th» 
reports of hostility were generally exaggerated, and that th» 
storm of tlic war-cloud would spend its violence over northwestera 
Illinois, and would never extend as far east as the Wabash. Tb.» 



95 

massacres of tlic frontier settlers in Kentucky, Ohio, and tlio early 
settlements in Indiana territoiy, were not forgotten, and the 
settlers were loatlie to return to their farms, to peril the lives of 
themselves and families. 

They required some reliable assurances that there was no danger, 
before they would assume so fearful a responsibility. To allay 
publie excitement, Brigadier General Jacob Walker, of the 20tli 
Brigade of Indiana Militia, published a report in the Lafayette 
Free- Press, in w^liich he stated that "after continuing at the 
encampment at Sugar Tree Grove a sufficient time to ascertain 
the true situation of affairs, he considered it his duty to discharge a 
portion of the troops," which were marched back into Tippecanoe 
county by Major Milhollen, and honorably discharged by him on 
the public square in the city of Lafayette. 

N. D. Grover, sub-Indian agent at Logansport, wrote a letter 
to the citizens of Lafayette, under date of the 81st of May, which 
was also published in the Free- Press, stating that the Pottawato- 
mie and Miami Indians would not join the hostile Indians. On 
the first day of June, Samuel Hoover, John Taylor, John McCor- 
mick, John B. Semans, and six or seven other prominent citizens 
of Lafayette, published an address through the columns of the 
Free-Press, to the people of Tippecanoe and surrounding counties, 
that most of the troops from Lafayette had leturned, and that 
there was no danger of the Indians in this locality, as the Miamis 
and Pottawatomies did not intend joining the hostile Indians, 
calling upon the people to become quiet and return to their homes 
without apprehension of danger. Thus assured, the people by 
degrees recovered from the panic and returned to their farms and 
crops, which greatly needed their attention. 

Among Captain A 's company of volunteers, from , 

Tras a man but little beloved by his Captain and fellow soldiers, 
who regarded him as a troublesome customer, and tried to dis- 
suade him from going to war, but go he would, despite of 
objections and remonstrances from every quarter. 

Troublesome from the outset, he became more disagreeable to 
his fellow soldiers every day. When the company had got some 
hundred miles into Illinois, the officers were at a loss to knovT 
how to dispose of this camp-pest, whom they feared would by his 
awkwardness or recklessness accidentally shoot some of his com- 



96 

radcB. The captain made known his dilemma to an officer high 
in command, who said he could relieve him by sending the obnox- 
ious individual as bearer of an "important despatch" to . 

The soldier was called up, and his Captain and the superior officer 
made him acquainted with the important service he had been 
selected to perform. That in consideration of the high estimate 
placed upon his capacity and fidelity, he had been chosen to carry 

an important express to the town of , which demanded that 

he should travel with all possible dispatch, day and night, until 
the important document was delivered to the person to whom it 
was directed. True to the trust reposed in him, the bearer of the 
express faithfully performed the laborious service, with all possi- 
ble dispatch. Jaded and travel-worn, he handed over the 
important paper. The seal was broken, and it contained the 
following words: 

"Give the bearer of those lines a good kicking, for he is a 
troublesome, disagreeable fellow — a pest and a nuisance to his 
Captain and fellow soldiers. Kick him or not, just as you please, 
but don't let him return to bother us here. ." 

While matters were going on thus in Indiana, the war still 
continued to progress in Illinois. Black Hawk and his warriors, 
eurrounded by battalions of well disciplined troops that threatened 
to overwhelm him, attempted to escape to the west bank of the 
Mississippi. 

On the 21st of May a party of about twenty hostile Indians 
attacked the Indian creek settlement in Lasalle county, Illinois, 
and killed fifteen persons, and took several young women prison- 
ers, who in July following were returned to their friends through 
the efforts of the Winnebagos. 

On the 22d of May a party of spies were attacked, and four of 
them slain, and other massacres of the frontier settlers followed. 
The militia, called out by Gov. Reynolds to the number of three 
housand, rendezvoused in June, near Peru; and marched to Rock 
river, where they were joined by the United States trooj)s, the 
whole to be under the command of Gen. Brady. 

An additional force of six hundred mounted men was ordered 
out; and Gen. Winfield Scott, with nine companies of artillery, 
hastened from the seaboard, by way of the lakes, to Chicago, to 
take part against the Indians, but did not arrive in time to render 



97 

aiiy materia! aid — the western troops having well-nigh wound iip 
the war before he arrived. His troops suffered mueh during their 
passage over the lakes, and while at Chicago, from the ravages 
of the Asiatic cholera — an enemj^ h)' far more dangerous and 
destructive than the hostile Indians they made haste to confront. 

Between Rock river and (Jalena, Major Demont, \vith about 
one hundred and fifty militia, met and repulsed Black Hawk and 
his two hundred followers. This skirmish took place on the 24th 
of June. The army continued to mo\'e up Bock river in pursuit 
of Black Hawk, and overtook him on tlie 21st of Jidy, near tlie 
Wisconsin river, in the neighborhood of the Blue Mounds, where 
a severe engagement took place between a party of troojis, under 
the command of General Henry, and the savages. It has been 
said that in this battle the Indians had fifty-two killed, while the 
loss on the part of dleneral Henry's men was one killed and eight 
wounded. 

On the 28th of July, the main army crossed the Wisconsin 
river in pursuit of Black Hawk, who was retiring toward the 
Mississippi, and on the 2nd of August he was overtaken and 
defeated on the bank of the Mississippi, nearly opposite the upper 
Iowa, with a loss of one hundred and fifty men, while of the 
whites, it has been said that but eighteen fell. This was the last 
battle of the Black HaAvk war. Considering his fortunes as des- 
perate, the foiled (Jhief fled, but was seized by the Winnebagos, 
and in twenty-five da3^s after the battle, he was delivered to the 
officers of the United States, at Prairie du Chien, and himself and 
family were sent as hostages to Fort Monroe, in the Chesapeake, 
where they remained in June, 1833. 

Black Hawk, in his life, says that at the last battle, as also in 
the engagement with Major Stillman, his flag of truce was disre- 
garded by our troops, and hostilities thrust upon the Indians while 
they were suing for peace. After his release from captivity, the 
Chief returned to his native Avilds, where he died. 7 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



FirtsT i,A\vYi:r.s oi'' i-afayettk — foreign attorneys — first riiYsi- 

t;iANS OF LAFAYETTE AND THT'ErANOE COUNTY MINISTERS OF 

THE COKI'EL OK THE VARIOUS CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS IN 
LAFAYETl'E. 

Tlie ea.ly Bar of Lafayette consisted of the following named 
attorneys, viz: .lo.scph Tulnian, Joseph Cox, Andiew Ingiam, 
David I'atlon, Moses Cox, Albeit 8. While, William M. Jen- 
neis, Thomas 13. Brown, Aaion Finch, ami John I'ettit, who were 
all the resident attornies up lo the October teiin of the Tippecanoe 
Circuit Court for the year IFol. Buius A. Lockwood moved to 
Lal'ayette in the Hummer of 1832. The ioreign attorneys who 
visited our Courts in those caily times, were Ihomas H. Blake, 
J. B Ihapman, P. M. Curiy, E. M. Huntington, J. Vanmetre, 
C. Eletciier, P. li. Patterson, dames Rariden, W'. Quarrels, C. D. 
Morris, 1). Rogers, dolin Law, Septimus Smith, James Farring- 
toH, Eihvard A. Ilannogan, Caleb B. Smith, T. D. Beard, Thos. 
J. Evans, David Walhu-e, J. Stetson, J. Angle, Jos. A. Wright, 
Heniy S. Lane, William P. Bryant, 8. C. Willson, R. A. Chan- 
d LM- and Bunel B. Taylcr. 

IMany of these atto.iu'ys came from the most remote sections of 
the Siate — riding those "extensive; judicial circuits" alluded to in 
a foiniL'i- chapter of this woik. 'I'o show the eneigy, industry, 
ail I pei-severance of those pioneei- attorneys, in the prosecution of 
t biir chosen prolession, 1 wcnild state that John Law came from 
Vin.eiine.^; Blake, Hunlinglon and Farrington fiom Terre Haute; 
•Fletchoj-, Q,!ari-els and Alonis from Indianapolis; Raridan iiora 
Uichnion .; Caleb B. Smith from Connersville; Chapman fiom 
Lapoiie; \Vright and Bryant IVom Rockville; Evans, Patterson, 
llauiicgin and Wallaic from ( oviiigion; Chandler from Williams- 
iio.i: au.i Lane, < uiry, Angle, una Willson from Crawfordsvillc. 



90 

From this exhibit tlie reader will perceive that our early lawyers 
oonsiilereil the whole State as ouc va.st circuit, which they trav- 
ersed on horseback, soinetiiues alone, and sonuuinies iu squads, 
as set i'oith in the "lieminiscences" of the Hun. O. ii. iSniith, long- 
before the days of turnpikes, railroads, caiuils, or telegraphs. To 
Avitness a troop of those eaidy attorneys ciitciiiig a vilhigcas they 
traveled the cinuit, themselves and their horses besjiattered with 
mud, and tlieir huge port-manteaus surmounted with overcoat ami 
umbrella, tliey resomblctl theforloin hope id' a company of mount- 
ed rangers, entering upon .some daring and almost lio])eles8 
charge, or a caravan emerging iVom the desert of Sahaia, black- 
ened with heat and covered v.ith dust. But, young disciple of 
Bla.kstone, don't smile at the grotesque appearance of these early 
counsellors, who end.ured the hardships and inivaiicms of iVontier 
life to coui-ecrato the Temple of duslice, and lay the deep and firm 
foundation of that system of juiisprudence whereon lest all our 
civil, political and leligious rights. With not a tithe of the 
advantages you possess, many of those men just named rose to 
an eminence iu their pi-ofession, and to 1111 high and honoiable 
stations iu the jadici:il and leirislative d.epaitments of the country. 
Their long rides on hoisehaclc, along blind paths and dimly 
delined roads, crossing unbridged streams, sleeping in the open 
air, as tliey frequently h:id to do, and leading colts and diiving 
steei-H home, taken on fees, fully developed their phy^•ical and 
iutelle:}tual energies, and gave them a visj'or and self-reliance pos- 
sessed by but lew of our more modern students, who liave been 
in the habit of reclining on damask and plush, and passing fiom 
court to com ton railroad cars, wheie the jolting is .'^^carcely suffi- 
cient to aid the digestion of the sumptuous dinners, which are 
often taken with as keen a relish as ever they devoured Coke, 
Kent, or (diitty. To prove the truth of the position just assumed, 
th:it hardships and obstacles should be i-egarde 1 as disjiplinary 
TTiians, calculated to develop and strengthen tlie Ia:ent powers of 
the self-made man, I will state, that from the list of attoineys 
above named, six were afterwards chosen to fill the bench, viz: 
Bryant, Pettit, Wallace, Huntington, Law, and Ingram; nine 
were elected Representatives in ('ongi-ess, viz: White, I'eitit, 
Hann.'gan, Blake, Rariden, Law, Lane, Wallace, and Smith — 
and three of them — Albert S. White, John Pettit, and Edward 



100 

A. Hannegan, were elected to tlie office of United iStates Senator. 
Joseph. A. Wriglit served two terms as Governor of the State, 
and is now United States minister at the court of Berlin. David 
Wallace was also Governor one term, was elected to Congress, 
and Avas afterwards elected Judge of the Common Pleas Court of 
Marion county. Thomas H. Blake was commissioner of the 
General Land Office under President Tyler. E. M. Huntington 
has for many years been Judge of the District Court of the United 
States for the State of Indiana. John Pettit is the present able 
and popular Chief Justice of Kansas; and Henry S. Lane the 
Eepublican candidate for Governor of this State, Avho received the 
nomination by acclamation. When Eufus A. Lockwood first 
came to Lafayette he Avas quite young. He soon formed a law 
partnership with A. S. White. It Avas not long before the young 
barrister had an opportunity to . display his dormant talents, 
Avhich, like the sparks of the smitten steel, needed intellectual 
attrition to elicit them in all their sparkling brilliancy. The firm 
of White & LoclvAvood Avcre engaged to defend John H. Frank, 
indicted for the murder of «John Woods, Avhich occurred in an 
affray groAving out of a bet on an election. All looked to Mr. 
White, Avho Avas one of the ablest and most popular hvAvyers in 
the State, to take the lead in this important case, which involved 
the life of their client. But knoAving the ability, tact and energy 
of his young partner, A\^ho, up to that time, had not been properly 
appreciated, he determined to give the young man a chance to 
make his debut before the public as an advocate. Throughout 
the protracted trial, which Avas prosecuted Avith marked ability 
LoclcAvood exhibited a research and depth of thought beyond the 
expectations of all who heard him. But his main speech in 
defense of the prisoner, which occupied tAvo days in its delivery, 
exhibited his giant intellect in all its gigantic proportions, and at 
once raised him to the rank of one of the ablest advocates of this 
or any other country. The prisoner Avas acquitted. LockAvood's 
fortune Avas made. His speech in the case Avas published, and by 
many good judges has been pronounced equal to the best efforts 
of those more distinguished advocates, Avhose speeches have been 
published as models of forensic eloquence. For many years he 
carried on an extensive and lucrative practice at Lafayette, and in 
all the courts of Indiana. Soon after the discovery of gold in 



101 

(California, Lc, with many oilier eminent atturnie« I'rom this and 
other States, sought the newly disoovereil El Dorado, which 
promised a new theatre, where they might win golden laurels and 
nuggets at the same time. Lockwood soon secured a large and 
lucrative practice in the city of San Francisco. He v>'as called 
upon to defend a prisoner, who rested under the ban of the self- 
constituted vigilance committee, who had Avrested the administra- 
tion of the law from the hands of the legally constituted authorities 
of the State, and were meting out life and death to the accused 
according to their caprice, or the hasty, ill-digested evidence pro- 
duced before their clamorous court, w'hich was selected from the 
heterogeneous mass of citizens who chanced to be present at the 
trial. Lockwood loudly denounced this wanton assumption of 
power on the part of the committee, and demanded a fair trial for 
the prisoner. The power and popularity of the committee wero 
then in their zenith. They insolently demanded the prisoner of 
the sheriff, and threatened personal violence to Lockwood if he 
persisted in his demands for a legal trial of the prisoner. He 
hurled defiance at these "lawless, bloody inquisitors," as he term- 
ed them, and warned them, in return, that unless they ceased from 
their mobocratic murders, he would soon have them dangling on 
the limbs of trees, as high as ever they had swung the victims of 
their lawless violence. Judge Lynch's sherifis, bailiffs and posse 
hovered round to grab this lone defender of the law and the right, 
but a sight of the revolver and l)Owic-knife which peeped from 
the belt that encircled his stalwart form, caused theui to shrink 
back without executing their designs, and this legal Hercules, 
clad in the panoply of the law, single-handed, like Luther and 
Tell, withstood the brav,-ling mob, and displayed a physical and 
moral courage that challenged the admiration of his most inveter- 
ate foes. Sm-h lofty heroism presents a suldimc spectacle., 
happily illustrated by Goldsmith's beautiful lines: 

Like some taU ciilT that reurs it:^ towering form, 
Swells from the vale, and iiiiUwav haves th« sionu; 
Thou.tch rouiul its breast the rolling ehuulK iire ^prejul, 
Kternal siiiiBhine settlrs mi its head." 

From that hour the power and intluence of the vigilance commit- 
tee began to wane, and in a short time law and order resumed 
their sway in the <_Tolden State. Lockwood's character for nerve 
and legal attainments spread far ami wide, and he had his choice 



102 

of sides in many important .suits, whicli yielded him both money 
and prolessionai char;ictcr. After the discovery of gohl in xVus- 
tralia, he lel't Han Fiant'isco, and sought that far-off modem Opher, 
in quest of ailventurc and the glittering metal. Soon aiter his 
arrival there, he was called on to make a Fourth of July oration, 
which he delivered with his wonted fervid eloquence, and pro- 
duced quite a sensation among all who listened to it. Her 
Majesty's officers, some of whom listened to his speech, on look- 
ing over the map of the woild, and seti.ig the immense" distance 
Australia lay from the little island where Her Majesty's throne 
was situated, thought it not best to let such inflammatory speeches 
be made, fearing that a Cataiine might be ensconced in the habil- 
iments and character of a Yankee lawyer, which tliey called him, 
who might raise a rebellion that would wrest the aurifeious island 
from the paw of the Biitish Lion. Kot wishing to excite a hub- 
bub among the loyal subjects of Her Imperial Majesty, he quietly 
retired from the crowded mait of Melbourne, to a rural retieat, 
Avhere he hired to a farmer to attend a large Hock of sheep, where 
in the character and employment of a shephenl, he "watched his 
flocks by night" and day, no doubt on the primitive plan, "lead- 
ing them to green pastuies, and by the side of still waters," for 
one year. After I'ultilling his engagement as sll'epherd, he laid 
aside his crook, doffed his shepherd frock, and returned to San 
Francisco, Avhere he resumed his practice of the law. He was 
employed by Col. JohnC. Fremont, in his great land suit for his 
Mariposa gold mine: He gained the case for Fremont, for which 
he was to receive a fee of one hundred thousand dollars. Soon 
after gaining this important suit, he embarked with his family to 
return to Lafayette, on board the ill-fated steamer Central America, 
which was wrecked on the ocean between Panama and New York, 
and the gifted and lamented Lockwood, with more than three 
hundred other passengers, found a w-atery grave. His wife and 
children were saved by the generous and magnanimous Captain 
Herndon, who preferred to perish himself with the wreck, rather 
than lose any of the women and children on board. 

Next 1 will give a list of the early physicians of Lafayette, viz: 
Othniel L. Clark, J. N. Bradtield, James Davis, Robert Martin, 
Loyal Fairman, David Jennings, Nathan Jackson, Benj. Carlisle, 
Elizur Demiug, I. N. Bladen, and Luther Jewctt. Of these, only 



103 

three remain in the piactiee in tliis cily, to-wit: (Jlaik, Jennings, 
and .lewett. Bnultield, Bhulen, Jackson, Faiinian, and Doming 
died in Lafayette. Many of tlie otlieis removed to oilier locali- 
ties. Dr. (Jlark seived one year in the House, and eight years in 
the Senate of the State Legislature — was appointed under the 
administration of Harrison and Tyler, with Lot IjioomlieM' and 
Jonathan iMcCarty, to examine accounts under the treaty with 
the Miami Indians iu 1841; and was elected and served as a 
membei- of the Convention to revise the Constitutioii of Indiana, 
which convened at Indianapolis in 1851, acquitting himself as an 
able and faithful representative, and honest m;.n, in all the various 
responsible trusts in which he was called to act. 

Dr. Doming was an able and e!o(|r.ont man, and in pf)int 
of talents would rank favorably with any oi his political and 
professional compeers. He served one term in the Legislature of 
Indiana, and filled important chairs in two Me^iical ('(dlcges in 
this State. He was afterwards elected and served in the chair of 
Theory and Practice iu the Medical University of IMissouii, at St. 
Louis, which position he occupied at the time of his death, in 
February, 1855. 

Drs. Jennings and Jewett have long since acquired a high 
reputation for their professional skill and industry, enjoy good 
health, have an extensive practice, and have accumulated a com- 
petency of this world's goods. Jewett is wealthy. 

On the Wea prairie were Drs. John Durkee, Harry L. Double- 
day, and Paris Mendenhall, all of whom were esteemed skillful 
physicians, and WMirthy members of society. All three died long 
since. At Fairfield (now Dayton) lived Drs. llorrom, John S. 
Davis, Fidlenwider, and James Gcntiy, who was killed, many 
years ago, near Dayton, by his horse running away with him, and 
throwing him against a tree which stood in the Wihl Cat l)ottora, 
some half mile east of Dayton. John S. Davis alone remains, at 
Dayton, in the practice, whh a wide and avcH deserved reputation 
as a physician and a man. At Americus resided Dr. Anthony 
Garret, now located at Delphi; and west of the Wabash river 
were the Drs. Conduits, who remained but a few years in Tippe- 
canoe county. 

In giving a brief notice of the clergy of the different Christian 
denominations, avIio have officiated in Lafayette, I wdll first make 



104 

mention of tlie Methodist, which built the first house of worship 
in Lafayette. Their Methodist system of itinerancy, allowing 
their ministers to remain generally hut one year, or, at most, hut 
two years, in a place, will swell the list of their preachers to 
an extent almost ecj[ual to the number of the whole of the other 
denominations put together. I shall not attempt to give their 
names, nor the time occupied by their ministrations in chronolog- 
ical order, and I am not sure that I will recollect all their names. 
.Rev. Hacdvaliah Yredenburg preached the first Methodist sermon 
in Lafayette, or, at least, was the first circuit rider who held 
meeting in the newly laid out village. Henry Buell, Eli Farmer, 
Stephen R. Beggs, James Armstrong, and John Strange, all 
preached in Lafayette prior to the year 1831. They were suc- 
ceeded by Samuel C. Cooper and Samuel Brenton, who were 
followed by Boyd Phelps and Wesley Woods; — the latter died 
soon after he entered upon the circuit, and was succeeded by S. 
R. Ball. In 1832-33 Richard Hargrave and Nchemiah Griffith 
rode the Lafayette circiiit, and James L. Thompson was presiding 
elder. Griffith was an ardent, devoted minister, and wore him- 
self out in the service of his Master, in early life. As a revivalist, 
he was almost if not qxxite as successful as Armstrong, and the 
lamented Edwin Ray, who both, like himself, died in the morn- 
ing of life, with their armor on. Hargrave was an able and 
eloquent preacher, who often carried away his audience by the 
irresistible charms of his copious, flowing eloquence. He still 
lives, and enjoys a green old age, ready to work on in the cause 
of his Master, or go to his reward whenever called for. William 
M. Clark and Wm. Watson were next on the list. Clark still 
lives in Knox county, Illinois, and has became quite wealthy. I 
heard him preach an able and telling sermon last Summer, at a 
camp meeting held near the town of Henderson, a few miles north 
of Galesburg, Illinois. At the conference of 1835, Lafayette was 
formed into a station, and Dr. H. S. Talbot was appointed the 
first stationed preacher for two years. He was succeeded by 
Lorenzo B. Smith, John A. Brouse, and Hawley B. Beers, each 
of whom remained one year. In 1840-41, Amasa Johnson took 
charge and remained two years. He was a bold, original and 
effective speaker. He died in Fort Wayne several years ago, 
helo.ved bv all wlio knew him. He was succeeded bv H. B. Beers 



105 

and Jacob ^l. Stallanl, wlio each remained one year, fn 1844- 
45, Samuel Brcnton Avas sent to Lafayette station, wliere lie 
remained two years, and was succeeded by Jolui H. Hull (tlic 
present incumbent of the Western Charge), who remained one 
year. He was succeeded by (■. M. Boyd, who remained two 
years, and T. 8. Webb, one year. About this time Aaron Wood 
was presiding elder of this district. In 1848, W. F. Wheeler 
(who recently died) was stationed as a (^ity Missionary, and 
through his labors the nucleus of a second Charge was formed. 
At the conference in 1850, the church was divided in Western 
and Eastern Charges. The Western Charge being the original 
cliurch, had in 1850-51 liev. John Daniels, now of California 
conference, placed over it, and the Eastern Charge had .Rev. T. 8. 
Webb placed over it, with Rev. Joseph Marsee presiding elder, 
who lives at Indianapolis, superannuated. The subsequent min- 
isters stationed at the Western Charge were as follows: In 1851 
-52, G. W. Beswick, who died at Greencastle a few years since; 
—1852-53, J. M. Stallard, two years— 1854-55, 8. R. Ball, part 
of the year, and E. D. Whitten the balance. Benjamin Winans, 
presiding elder. In 185.5-5(), (J eorge W. Crawford, two years, 
who has recently passed to his reward, in the morning of his life 
and usefulness. In 1857-58, A. A. Cee, who was succeeded by 
J. H. Hull. John L. Smith, presiding elder, who at the present 
time (with his colleagues, J. M. Stallard, Richard Ilargravc, and 
James Johnson) is attending the General Conference of the 
United States, now in session in the city of Buffalo, and will, in 
all probability, be chosen a Bishop — which office his talents and 
long and efficient services, eminently qualify him to till. This 
Charge nuinbers over two hundred members — has a large and 
nourishing Sabbath School, and a valuable and interesting librar3^ 
The Eastern Charge was organized by setting off to it one 
hundred and foiiy members from the old or Western Church. 
Its second minister was William Graham, in 1851; liiither Tay- 
lor, in 1852; G. M. Boyd, in 1858-54; W. F. Wheeler, in 1855; 
John Leach, in 1856; in 1857-58, James i\ Reinl, and in 1859- 
60, N. L. Brakeman, the present incumbent. Connected with 
this Charge is also a large and ilonrishing Sabbath School, with 
a valuable library. The number of members in this Charge in 
the year 1859, was two hundred and live, as shown in Hawes' 



Directory of the City of Lafayette, to which I am indebted for 
mucli valuable data in regard to the organization of the various 
churches in Lafayette; an also the Church Records of the Western 
<!harge. Both Charges have large, commodious brick chapels. 

I regret that my restricted limits prevent me from giving a 
Bioie extended notice of Aaion Wood, Allen Wylie, George M. 
Beswick, J. M. Stallard, and others above mentioned, whose 
talents and efficient services in the ministry entitle them to the 
warm regard of all lovers of genuine religion and sound morality. 

The German Methodist Episcopal Church was oiganized in 
Lafayette in 1851, under the pastoral care of Rev. C. Kellar. It 
has since been under the charge of Rev. J. Barth, T. B. Baker, P. 
Shroek, S. Barth, J. Kishing, and J. TL Fusz. Their house of 
worship is in the eastern portion of the city. Number of mem- 
bers, over fifty. 

The second church organized in Lafayette was by the Preshy- 
teiian denomination, on the 26th day of May, 1828. Their first 
minister was the Rev. James Crawfoi'd. He was assisted occa- 
sionally by Rev. James Thompson, from Crawfordsville. In 
May, 1830, the services of Rev. James A. Carnahan (now of 
Dayton, in this county) were procured. He was succeeded by 
Rev. Michael Hummer, in 1834. Rev. Joseph G. Wilson was 
the next pastor, and remained as such until in May, 1837, when 
the "Exscinding Acts" were passed by the General Assembly of 
the Presbyterian Church, which caused the division of the Church 
into Old School and New School. With the latter of these bodies 
the Rev. Mr. Wilson and several members of the Church sympa- 
thized. Those who adheied to the Old School Assembly refused 
to commune with them, or recognize them as a part of the Pres- 
byterian Church. In 1839, the Second Presbyterian Church was 
organized, under the pastoral care of Rev. Joseph G. Wilson. 
In 1840, Rev. E. W. Wright was called to the pastoral care of 
the First or Old School Church, where he remained until in 1845. 
He was succeeded by S. H. Hazzard and P. R. Yannatta. In 
1850, Rev. I. N. Candee, now of the city of Galesburg, Illinois, 
was called to the office of pastor, and continued until in 1855, 
when he was dismissed at his own request. He was succeeded by 
W. W. Colemarj^ who remained about eighteen months in the 
discharge of his pastoral duties, when he vacated the charge on 



107 

■uceoiuiL of ill iieaUIi. Ho was succccJed by Riv. li. H. Allen, 
lute Secretary of the Ameriean Sunday ISl-IiooI Union, who still 
continues us the pastor of the Old School conyregaticjn, wiio have 
a superb new brick chapel, on the corner of (Columbia and Mis- 
souri sticets. Number of coniuiunicants, about one hundred. 

Rev. ]Mr. Wilson continued as pastor of the New School Giuirch 
in Lafayette until in May, 184D, wlien he was succeeded hy Uev. 
Charles F. Marshall, who remained until in May, 1857. In 
October, 1857, Rev. Charles Wiley, D. 1)., was called to the 
pastoral cliarge of this Church, and was succeeiled by Rev. Daniel 
Rica, the present incumbent. The chapel of this congregation, 
on the corner of Main and Missouri streets, is a laige aiid splendid 
(Jothic structuj-e, being fifty-four feet wide, and ninety-eight feet 
long — is beautitully and conveniently finished, and is scarcely 
excelled, as a house of worship, by any in the State. Connected 
with it is a large and flouiishing Sabbath School, wliich has a 
very efficient organization, and fine library of choitte works. 
Number of communicants, about seventy-live. 

The Associate Reform i'resbyterian Church was organiijed ia 
1842, and called Rev. Samuel Finlay as pastor, who remained 
about one year. Afterwards Ilev. James H. Peacock; after him 
R3V. David A. Carnahan, Rev. Mr. Hr.yt, and R'^v.J. N. Rressley, 
who removed a few years since to Indiauola, Iowa, since whose 
removal the Church has been without a regular pastor, l)ut have 
had the service of stated and occasional supplies. Th.eir chapel 
is on Ferry, between Missouri and Pearl streets. Connected Avith 
this Church is a flourishing vSabbath School. Kumber of com- 
municants, about sixty. 

The Baptist Church in Lafayette was organized in 18o2, under 
the pastoral charge of Dr. Loyal Fairman, who was succeeded by 
Rev. Simon G. Minor, now of Canton, Illinois, under whose 
faithful labors many members were added to the Church, and a 
fine brick chapel was built on Missouri, between Main and Ferry 
streets. Mr. Minor was succeeded by a Mr. French, wdio, after 
remaining a short time pastor of the Church, was succeeded by 
Rev. Anson Tucker, who was subsequently stationed at Monmouth, 
Illinois, where he died. Mr. Tucker was succeeded by Rev. T. L. 
Breckinridge, whose pastoral labors have lately been terminated 
on account of his ill health. The congregation is large, and 



108 

connected with tlie CLrnrch is a veiy large and tionrishing Sab- 
bath Scliool, with a fine and valuable library. 

The Protestant Ejnscopal Church, called St. John's Church, 
was organized March 27, 1837, by Eev. Samuel R. Johnson, in con- 
nection with Wm. M. Jenners, Robert Jones, Sr., John D. Smith, 
Jasper Bradley, and Dr. Elizur Deming, who composed the first 
vestry. Rev. S. R. Johnson, was a man of great piety and 
benevolence. Possessing a large fortune, and feeling responsible 
for the manner in which he used it, he Avas constant and liberal in 
his acts of beneficence — carrying temporal and spiritual consola- 
tion not only to the suffering and destitute of his own parish, 
but wherever he saw sufiering humanity, his warm, impulsive 
heart gave responsive throbs, and his liberal hand supplied the 
needed aid. He not only donated a large and valuable lot of 
ground on the corner of Missouri and Ferry streets, to the society 
to build a chapel on, but he also built a small frame house for 
Avorship, mostly at his own expense, and for many years dis- 
charged the duties of rector of the parish, without charge. In 
return for such liberality on his part, his congregation erected and 
presented him with a splendid brick house, worth three thousand 
dollars. Many instances of his acts of liberality might be given, 
showing the characteristic benevolence of the man, but for want 
of space I will relate one only: 

One night he caught a man emerging from his collar with a ham 
of bacon. Mortified and astounded at the daring theft, the min- 
ister sharjdy reprimanded him for such conduct. Abner, for that 
was the christian name of the transgressor, to excuse himself for 
this act of rapacity, said that his family was in a state of starva- 
tion, occasioned by the severe and protracted affliction of its 
members — that he did not Avish to disturb the evening devotions of 
the benevolent minister — that he had taken the ham with the 
intention of telling him of it, and paying for it when he became 
able. The clergyman relented — took him back into his cellar 
and gave him an additional bacon ham, telling him whenever in 
future he needed provisions for his family, to call on him, and 
dismissed him with his blessing and prayer to the Almighty to 
grant all needed aid, temporal and spiritual, to the needy, afflicted 
man and his family. On returning into his house, he said: "Dear 
wife, we must immediately send some flour over to Abner W — 's 



109 

— his fiimily is in much want, iind 1 I'ear we, have committed 
great sin, in letting the poor go unprovided for, who live within a 
stone's throw of our house." The flour, and other dainties, such 
as the parson and his kind spouse well knew how to select for the 
indigent, were carried over to the poor man's cabin, and the man 
of God felt satisfied that his philanthropy had not been misap- 
plied. But the obdurate and ungrateful Abner still continued to 
rob cellars and hcu-r(jn,sts, and carry on a kind of promiscuous 
stealing, until he was finally arrested and committed to the State 
prison for stealing fifty dollars in silverfrom a friend and guest. 

After remaining in charge of St. John's Church in Lafayette fur 
many years, the condition of his business affairs in the city of 
Brooklyn, New York, imperiously demanded his presence and 
attention there, and accordingly in June, 1S47, he resigned, and 
was succeeded in the rectorship by Rev. •!. W. McCullough, D. 
D., wdio remained xrntil in March, 1<S49. Rev. A. M. Lautrelle 
officiated for a short time. On February, 25, 1850, iliglit Rev. 
(jreorge Upfold, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Indiana, was 
invited to the rectorship of the ('hurch, and remained in that 
capacity until January, 1851, when he resigned to devote his 
undivided attention to his Episcopal duties. Rev. Jolin O. Barton 
was rector from the time of the Bishoi^'s resignation until June, 
1856, W'hen W. P. Ray was called as rector, and resigned July 
1, 1857. In September, 1857, Rev. Anthony TenBroeck was 
called to the rectorship, and served until in September, 1859, 
since which time, the Church has had no regular minister. This 
congregation has a large and splendid ne^v brick chapel, on the 
corner'of Missouri and Ferry streets. Number of communicants, 
one hundred and twenty-seven. There is a large and flourishing 
Sabbath School connected wdth this Church, provided wuth a 
large and select library. 

The Roman Catholic Church (English), known as the Church 
of St. Mary and St. Martha, w^as organized in 1837, and was 
supplied by Father Francis, from Logansport. The present 
Church building, which is of brick, forty by eighty feet in si/^e, 
situated on the corner of Browux and Mississippi streets, cost 
810,000. There is also a brick school house on the lot, and a 
school taught in it. The membership, including children, is over 
twenty-five hundred. The priests who have officiated here have 



no 

been Father Fianeis, Father Claik, Father Maloney, and Fatlicr 
Kih'oy, the present ineunibent. 

The Chnreh of St. Bonifaceus (German Iioman Catliolic), 
situated cm the corner of Chesnut and Feiry streets, wasuigauized 
in 1853. The building is brick, and cost ^$7,000. There is also 
a school lioiise and residence I'or the priest, erected on the Church 
lot. Father Stephens is the priest who officiates, and is quite ao 
eloquent and effective speaker. 

The Christian Church was organized in 1849. They have a 
commodious brick chapel on Missouri street, between Korlh and 
Brown. Eev. dohn Longley was the venerable and vcneiated 
pastor of this Church for many years. H, St, John Vandake was 
pastor for the year 1845. Rev. Joseph Fianklin is the present 
pastoi-, assisted occasionally by the aged and beloved pastor above 
alluded to. Present number of members, about ninety-five. 
Connected with this Church there is a flourishing Sabbath School. 
The Unitarian Church meets for worship at Melodeon Hal). I 
have not learned the name of ^heir minister, nor the number of 
their members. 

The United Brethren Church ivas tarly organized in Lafayette. 
They have a fine brick chapel, about thirty-five by forly-five feet, 
with a basement, on Tearl street, in the northern poition of iho 
city. Theii- ministers have been John Peters, Andrew Wimsett, 
Bailey, and Hamilton, their present presiding elder; Rev. David 
Brown, James Davis (long since gone to his reward), James 
Griffith, and others, have at different times preached for the con- 
gregation. 

'I'he German Lutheran Churcli was organized in 1S48, by liev. 
A. Leemhous. The following year they purchased a lot on Feny 
street, between Pearl and Clai k, where they elected a neat fiame 
chapel. Connected with this Cliurch is a German and English 
school. jMembership, over 40. Rev. Frederick Koenig is pastor. 
The Universalist Church is a fine, laige frame building, situ- 
ated on the corner of Main and Claik streets, which cost ^3,000. 
The first pastor was Erasmus Manfoid, now of St. Louis. Ho 
was succeeded by Phineas Hathaway, xvho done much to build 
up the Chui-ch and congregation, and Rev. I. M. ^Yestial], the 
present minister. 

^Ihc Jewish Synagogue was organized in Febn;aiy, 1151, 



Ill 

under tli-3 namo of "Alivas Ac-hini," ov Ijoving Brothers. Rabbi 
Loventluil ofHjiat.ed I'or several years. They are 8ui)plicil by 
0!^f;vsiL)ii;il Rabbis, from Cincinnati, Chicago, and otiiur points. 
Coiin^jteil with the Synagogue there is a iiouri^hing school, in 
wliich tlui ciiildren are taught Hebrew, German, and the Hrst 
prinjiplos of tliLnr religion. The membership is about tliirty- 
tliree, and there are nj better citizens than form the .lewisli 
population ol' this city. The dilferent Rabbis who have olliciated 
hero have been Rev. (jioodnian, Emmiidi, Ijoveuthal, and Hiioen- 
berg, tlndr present priest. 



on ARTE R XIX. 



WAnUATIVK OF THK CAfTiVITY BY THE INDIANS, 01' lUOHARO UUE, 
OEOHOE HOI, MAN, AND lUVlM HINTON. 



On the 11th day of February, 1781, a wagoner by the name of 
Irvin Hiaton, was sent from a bloekliouse at the vilhigeof Louis- 
vilh', at tlie Falls of the Uliio river, to Ilai-rodsbuig, lor a load of 
provisions for the fort. Two young m !i>, named Rijhaid Rug 
and Georgj llolman, the foiMiur aged nineteen years, and the 
latter sixteen, vvei'e sent as guards to prote.-t the wago:i iVom the 
depredations of any hostile Indians that might be lurking in the 
cinebrukes or ravines through which they had to pass in going to 
and returniug from Harrod.sbui-g. There had been no laic reasons 
for appreheading danger j'lom the Inilians so early in the season, 
altliougli thore was a general expectation that about the lime the 
leaves were as large as a scpiirrel's ear, there would be a general 
attajk on thi) frontier inhabitants of Virginia, Pennsylvania, iind 
Kjatujky. 

fc>o )n after the party set out on their jounu^y, a severe snov/ 
sto.m set in, which continued with unabated fuiy umil afiernoon, 
filling tlij u^■lg(>)^ ruts, and wreathing tlie cop>e and caudirakes 
in a rijli white robe, until mother eartii appealed to lie prone in a 
ivinding-.sheet of spotless purity. Lest the melting snow might 



112 

dampeu the powder in tlieir rifles, the guards tired them ofl', 
intending to reload them as soon as the storm ceased. Hinton 
urged on his horses, while Rue walked briskly a few rods ahead 
of the Avagon, and Holman about the same distance beliind. As 
they ascended a hill about eight miles from Louisville, Hinton 
heard some one say "ho" to the horses. Supposing that 
something was wrong about the wagon, he stopped, looked around 
and asked Holman why he called to him to halt. Holman said 
that he had not spoken. Hinton then said: "Rue, was it you 
that cried 'ho' ?" Eae replied in the negative, but said that he 
heard the voice distinctly, and supposed that it was Holman, or 
liimself, that had spoken. 

At this time a voice cried out, "1 will solve the mystery for 
you. It was Simon Girty that cried *ho!' and he meant what 
he said!" at the same time emerging from a sink-hole a few rods 
from the roadside, followed by thirteen Indians, w'ho immediately 
surrounded the three Kentuckians, and demanded them to sur- 
render, or die instantly. Rue instinctively iaiged his gun to his 
face to shoot down Girty, but on remembering that it vr&s empty, 
he took it down, and the little party, making a virtue of necessi- 
ty, at once surrendered to this renegade white man and his Indian 
allies. Being so near two forts, Girty made all possible speed in 
making fast his prisoners. He stripped the harness from the 
horses, selecting the lines, and such ropes and leathern straj^s as 
might be needed on the journey, and prepared for an immediate 
flight across the Ohio river. After securely binding the prisoners, 
by passing ropes under one arm and over the opposite shoulder, 
they cut off the legs of their pantaloons about four inches above 
the knee, and started them off through the deep snow, as fast as 
the horses could trot — leaving the wagon, containing a few empty 
barrels, standing in the road. A tall Shaw^nee warrior rode one 
of the best of Hinton's team horses, and led Rue as his captive, 
A Delaware Chief rode another of the horses, leading Holman 
Avith a portion of the lines Avith Avhich the Avagoner had guided 
his lead horses. Hinton, although he had a Avife and six chil- 
dren, Avhom he had that morning left at the Falls, Avas likewise 
put into leading-strings, and hurried along after a fierce-looking 
ShaAvnee, mounted upon another of his horses. The remaining 
horse Simon Girty, the generalissimo of the band, appropriated 



113 

Jto ]iis own u.se, alternately dashing along at the head of the 
company, then falling back and talking with the prisoners, whom 
he told if tlioy valued their lives, they must keep profound 
silence, and make no attempt to escape. The party arrived at 
the Ohio river before dark that evening, where three large bark 
canoes were secreted in a cove on the south bank of the river, 
some twelve miles above the Falls. The prisoners, weary and 
benumbed witli cold, were placed in one of tlie canoes, under the 
care of Girty and tlieir respective captors, and two other Indians, 
who paddled the canoe. Tlic rest of the Indians brotight over the 
■other crafts, swimming the horses over by the lower side and stern 
of the canoes. 

After crossing the Oliio river, the prisoners were huriied witli 
great speed into the wilderness of the North-Western Territoiy, 
towards Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta. The party made no halt until late 
the first night, when they encamped without striking a iire, about 
half a mile from the trace, some twenty miles north of the Ohio 
river. Here a brief pai'lcy was held between Girty and the 
Indians, in which the point was iliscusscd, whether it would not 
be best for the party, in order to elude pursuit, to strike immedi- 
ately for the Indian town at Vincennes, (^n the Wabash river. 
Girty and a few of the party were in favor of hastening to Vin- 
cennes, while the majority were of the opinion that it would be 
safest to proceed at once to Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta. Finally it was 
decided to make a feint by traveling awhile in the direi'tion of 
Vincennes, then change their course and steer through the White 
river country to the Auglaize. 

At dawn next morning the party were threading the wilderness, 
in the direction of the town on the Wabash, with precipitate 
haste, keeping a spy a few hundred yards in advance of tlie main 
body, and anotlier about as far in the rear. They traveled late 
the second night also, diverging about as far from the path as 
they did the previous night, and encamped again without striking 
a fire — a precaution always observed by the Indians on marches 
of this kind, to prevent any pursuing party finding their encamp- 
ment, and surprising them while asleep. On retiring to rest each 
night, the invariable rule was to place the captives in the middle, 
with their hands tied behind thani, and then a large, active 
Indian was plai;cd on (sach side, with tomahawks within reach. 



114 

so that if an attack was made on them in the night, they woukl 
he ready to meet an invading foe, or dispatch the prisoners, if 
ahout to be rescued hy their friends. 

Girty was morose and taciturn. 'The few words he spoke were 
generally in the Delaware language. Ivue had been in several 
campaigns against the Indians, and had obtained a smattering of 
several of the Indian dialects. ^Jirty at length thought he could 
perceive by the shad(;s that passed over line's countenance at 
times, that he was not entirely ignorant of the Indian language, 
and took occasion during his temporary absence (which he art- 
fully contrived for the purpose), to enquire of his fellow captives 
if he had not been in some of the campaigns and battles against 
the Indians. They were admonished to tell the truth — that if 
the Indians ever caught them in a lie, death would l)e the inevi- 
table consequence. 'Ihcy hesitated giving an answer. The 
(iitestion was pressed with a menacing flourish of the tomahawk. 
They replied that he had been in several campaigns against the 
Iiidians. How many? Three or four, v/as the response. Hue 
chanced to overhear this colloquy. He thought his hour had 
come. ]>ut knowing that bravery was esteemed one of the high- 
est virtues by the savages, he approached the camp tire as if he 
knew nothing of what had transpired, sat down his brass kettle 
of water he had been ordered to bring, and took a seat on a log- 
by the side of Girty, in a quiet, confident manner. The old 
bo""us savage appeared mood^^ At length he muttered out, 
"line, was you ever out in a campaign against the Indians?'* 
"Yes, 1 was." "How many?" "Four," replied the captive. 
"Was you with (Jcneral ('lark at the taking of Yincennes?" 
"Yes." "Was you with iiim when he made his dash against 
Chillicotlie, and destroyed the Piqua towns and Loramie's store?" 
"I was," was the ready reply. At this Girty sprung from the 
lot>', rage convulsed his whole frame, while with a ghastly frown 
lie muttered' "You played h — 1 there! didn't you! I have a 
mind to split your skull with this hatchet!" but he changed the 
weapon in his hand, and struck the prisoner a blow ou the head 
with the handle. 

Simon Girty was a white man, a Pennsylvanian by birth. He 
Avas brave, ambitious, and unscrupulous. He espoused the cause 
of the Indians (whose prisoner be had been for many years, in 



115 

iiLs (.'urly Ijoyln'oil j, ami It'il tlieia to many lilundy massac-res ol 
lii.s white bn^thicu. From tlie time of his tioai'lici-uiis apostacy. 
he vied with tls'^ most cruel and relentless .ravages (u circuiuveut 
his old friend^, and put thi'Ui to dealli \>y the most cruel and 
ingenious tortu.es. lie was pi-esent at (he huruing of ( 'olouel 
('rawford, and S!'\eral other brave soldiers; and so far from 
attemj)tiHg to >ave them IVoni the most exermdating death, he 
coolly looked on, with a demoniac satisi'action, and lohl lliejn 
tliatthey wer-- i)ut gel ting their just deserts. 

Tlie prison;'rs Jiad heard cd' his unparalleled cruelly, ami i'r(;m 
the time i( was announced they were the captives of Simon 
(Jirty, they i'elt that tliev weic subject to the caprice of a cruel 
and bloodthirsty man, '.vho Avould kill or spare, as interest oi 
j>assion might dictate. TIu' dastai'dly blow he had given Kue 
over the head \vith his tomahawk handle, accompanied by a volley 
of cui^es. tended to incivase the settled hatred and disgust of the 
t'aptives, who weie forced to c(jnccal their dislike as much as 
possible, and affect a feeling of contentment, when they expected 
every hour that some one, or all of them, might feel the edg« 
instead of the h.andlf! of th.e tomahawk, which was often brau- 
dislied over ih^ir heads i hrough slieer wantonness o|' tlieir bi'utal 
captors. 

The third day aftci' I'lDS.^ing the Ohio, the party, lind.ing that 
they were not pursued, relaxed their speed, and turned aside foi- 
the purpose of bronsing their horses, and resting themselves and 
their p)risoners, who were all much fatigued by the forced maixdics, 
and lack of rest, the two preceding days and nights. 

Their scanty store of provisions having given out, huuter> 
were sent out, who, after a few hours' absence, returned with a 
small deei- and two turkeys. These were dressed and hastily 
broiled on the coals, without salt, and were divided out among the 
company. Turtle soup, or cookeil i'rogs, would not have been a 
more savoiy dish to a Frenchman, than were these fragments of 
wild game to the famished, travel-worn prisoners; who now felt 
they wei'C beyond the reach of aid from their friends, and weie 
doomed to a fearful captivity, among exasperated savages, who 
considered themselves and the whole Indian race trampled upon 
and abused hy the steady and systematic encroachments of the 
white man, who had diiven thmn from the shores of the Atlantii" 



116 

across tlio Allegliauies, and were seeking to drive them west of 
the Mississippi river. The prisoners remembered the cruel 
circunivention and cohl blooded murder a few j'ears before, of 
the noble Cornstalk, a leading Chief of the Shawnees, his brave 
son Ellinipsieo, and the young Chief Ued Hawk, near the mouth 
of the Great Kanhawa, and did not know but they might be the 
three victims that would be sacrificed to appease the manes of 
these lamented chieftains. 

From this point the party changed their course for Wa-puc-ca- 
nat-ta, passing through the White river and Blue river countries, 
crossing the head waters of the Wabash east of where Fort Wayne 
was afterwards built. On arriving within a <\i\y's journey of 
Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta, on the Auglaize, a runner was dispatched to 
inform the Indians of the return of Girty and his party, and to 
make preparations to have the prisoners run the gauntlet on 
eitering the town. When the party had arrived within a few 
miles of the toAvn, they were met by several Chiefs and warriors, 
who come out to do themselves the honor of meeting the return- 
ing baiad, and assist in arranging the preliminaries of the gauntlet, 
a time-honored custom of the savages. A brief parley ensued. 
Girty called the prisoners before him. He told them that within 
a few hours they would arrive at the village, where they would 
find the Indians drawn up in two lines, one line on each side of 
the path, for two or three hundred yards from the council-house. 
They must pass between these two lines of warriors, who would 
strike at them with clubs and knives as they passed. If they 
were knocked down, it was against the rule to hit them Avhile 
down. They must get upon their feet again, and run for the 
council-room with all speed. When they gained the goal, they 
were free from further assaults. There they would be tried for 
their lives. If the council thought it best to spare their lives, 
they would so decide. If they were condemned to death, the 
council would determine the time and manner of their execution. 

On arriving within sight of the village, they saw the lines 
drawn up on either side of the path, and the grim, painted sav- 
ages awaiting the approach of the prisoners. 

It was decided that Hintou should first run the gauntlet. He 
received severe whacks and blows over the head and shoulders, 
from the clubs and sides of the tomahawks of the Indians, before 



117 

lie readied the couucil-liuuse, which afforded much sport to the 
Indians, wiio evinced their liihrrity in the most vociferous yells, 
and roar.s of laughter. After a few more hasty directions from 
Girty, as to the rules of the race, and in what manner he must 
behave himself in the diflerent phases of the chase, Ruo was next 
started down between the lines, and an Indian after him witli an 
uplifted tomahawk. lie far outstripped his pursuer, dodged 
most of the blows aimed at him as he passed, and gained tlie 
council-house amidst the noisy shouts of the savages. 

Ilolmau vcas reluctant to enter the race. He told CJirty that he 
would not be able to pass through so severe an ordeal — that he 
thought it unfair to put a stripling like himself, w\asted with 
famine, and worn down with hardships, to so severe a test. A 
pow-wow was held. The programme was changed. The men 
retired from the lines, and their places were filled by squaws and 
boys, with knives, clubs and switches in their hands. A comical 
smile played upon the faces of all but Holman, who was started 
down the lines, followed by an Indiau with a long switch. The 
chase was spirited. Switches and clubs rattled over his head, 
shoulders and body, as he darted between the lines to the coun- 
cil-house, amidst the loud and prolonged whoops and Ita Im' s of 
old and young, who looked upon the last lace as the lighter al'ter- 
piece or farce, that succeeded the; weightier tragedy, relaxing the 
stern visage of war, and extracting a laugli from the sombre (.'hief 
of a dozen battles, and the wearer of twice as many scalps. 

The feast was spread. Chiefs and warriors partook of the 
bountiful r('[)ust. The prisoners were supplied with food, and 
told to await with patience the decision of the council, whiidi 
would that afternoon decide their fate. 

The savage sanhedrim was soon in session. An old dark-vis- 
aged (.'hief pi'esided. iSpcech al'ter speech was made, during 
which many violent gestures were made, antl angry glances cast 
toward the corner of the room wlieic^ the prisoners sat, which 
boded no good to the unfortunate trio, wlio under.>tood but little 
of their harangues. The council broke up. The prisoners were 
told that their cases were not finally disposed of, but were con- 
tinued for the presence of other Chiefs ami waniors. who lived on 
tlie Scioto and 15ig Tliaini, who were expected to ;uiive in a few 
davs. 



118 

llintuirs iiiiud was lilled Avitli gloomy forebodings of u cruel 
fate impending liver liim. He tlioiiglit lie saw in the trial (which 
had been continued for the presence of other chieftains, e(|ually, 
and pcrhaj^s more cruel than those who had sat in ihe former 
council) unmistakeable signs of a hard fate. VisiouN of his wife 
and children at home, Avere in his slumbers by night, and filled 
his thoughts by day. Could he escape from the ruthless savages, 
and again press those loved ones to his bosom? Oi-, must he 
passively await whatever doom they might .determine to inflict 
upon him? were questions that constantly presented themselves 
to him. He cautiously whispered his feelings and intentions to 
his fellow captives, who could only sympathize with him in his 
manifold sorrows. He said that the affection he bore for his wife 
and children Avould impel him to desert upon the first opportu- 
nity. He knew that the chances of escape weie greatly against 
him- — that if he was recaptured he Avould be killed forthwith, 
without doubt. His fellow prisoners i-emonstrated against his 
attempting to escape, as hazardous in the extreme. They advised 
him to remain with them and abide the trial — that some circum- 
stance might transpire to their advantage. But Hinton was 
determined in his plans, which w^ere kept entirely secret, and a 
few nights afterward it was announced that "Red Head," as the 
Indians called him, had escai)ed, taking with him an Indian's 
gun and accoutrements^ There was a geueial flashing of eyes and 
tomahaAvks around the encanipnient. "Look well to the other 
prisoners," broke from many savage lips, while menacing words 
and gestures evinced how deep -was their chagrin at the unexpect- 
ed escape of the prisonei-, whom they least expected meditated 
such a thing. From the first day of his captivity, Hinton affected 
a quiet, stoical indifference, and appeared to l)e the most docile 
and happy one of the three. The advantages of age and experi- 
ence enabled him to school his feelings and hide his real intentions, 
so that his sudden exit struck the whole village like a clap of thunder 
from a clear sky. Pursuit was immediately instituted. Scores 
of infuriated savages thronged the woods in every direction to 
find some trace of the fleeing fugitive, who it was supposed would 
aim for the Falls of the Ohio, but as a matter of precaution 
might in the outset start in some other direction to elude pursuit. 

A stricter guard was placed over the remaining prisoners, who 



110 

were plainly told that should they attempt to escape, and fail to 
do so, they would immediately be put to death, and they could 
not promise in how mild or .sovero a manner; that Hinton's 
escape had exasperated the tribes, and that the two remaining 
prisoners; would most likely receive less clemency at their pending 
trial. 

Next morning the most of tlic pursuers returned. Home eight 
or ten only had pressed on to a point where they expected to 
intercept Ilinton on his way to the Ohio river. They were right 
in their calculations, for late in the ai'tcrnoon of the second da}- 
after his escape, a man was seen gliding through the woods about 
half a mile from the trace that led from Randusky to the old 
Chillicothe town. At times he would stop, and from some log 
or high piece of ground overlook the surrounding country, as if 
he were a spy. Thus he walked into the midst of an ambuscade 
of his wiley pursuers, who, after watching his motions for awhile, 
crawled from one hiding place to another until they had complete- 
ly invested him, before he was aware of danger, 'i'hey uttered a 
simultaneous ami prolonged yell, and rushed upon the lone, 
fatigued traveler, whom they recognized to bo Ilinton, tiring two 
or three shots as they pressed around him, Avithout any other effect 
than increasing his consternation at his truly appalling condition. 
He was seize:! and disainied, and told to prepare for a cruel death: 
that they had often admonished him of the danger of attempting to 
escape, and that " Indians would not lie" — they would be found as 
good as their word; that night he would be burned at the stake, 
that the severity of his punishment might deter others fi'om at- 
tempting an escape. He told them that he did not care so niuch 
for his own life; that it was his love for his wife and childi'en in 
Kentucky that caused him to i)reak away Aom his captivity; that 
as for himself, he could soon have become reconciled to their mode 
of life, and made himself happy by hunting and fishing. His 
touching appeal to the heart of the husband and father, in behalf 
of the dear ones far away whose welfare now caused a deeper 
solicitude than his own desperate condition, failed to excite the 
sympathy of his inexorable captors, who immediately set about 
making preparations to burn their devoted victim. He earnestly 
implored them to shoot or tomahawk him, and not protract his 
sufferings unnecessarily; but thej^ turned a deaf ear to his entreaties. 



120 

and consummated tlieir arraugemeuta for liis death. After partak- 
ing of tlieir evening repast, ■\vhicli they shared Avith their fatigued 
and hungry victim, they drove a stake into the ground in the cen- 
ter of a circle of dry sticks and brush wliich they had gathered for 
the purpose. They then proceeded to strip and black the prisoner 
— a preliminary usually attended to in such sacrifices. After tying 
the prisoner to the stake, burning faggots were applied to the 
brush in several places; the war-whoop thrilled through the dark 
surrounding forest like the chorus of a band of infernal spirits escap- 
ed from Pandemonium, and the scalp-dance v\uis struck up by those 
demons in human shape, who for hours encircled the roasting victim, 
brandishing their tomahawks and war-clubs, and venting their 
indignant execrations on the helpless sufferer, who meekly submit- 
ted to his immolation, and died about midnight from the effects 
of the slow intense heat, vrhich literally roasted him to death. As 
soon as he fell u|)on the ground, the Indian who first discovered 
him that evening in the woods sprang in, sunk his tomahawk into 
his skull above the ear, and with his knife stripped off the scalp,, 
which he bore back Avith him to the town as a trophy, and v/hich 
was tauntingly thrust into the faces of Rue and Holman, with the 
interrogation, "Can you smell the fire on the scalp of your old 
red-headed friend? — We cooked him and left him for the wolves 
to make a bicakfast upon: that is the way Ave serve runaAvay pris- 
oners." 

Shortly after the cruel murder of Hinton, a deputation arriAcd 
from Detroit, stating that the contemplated movement against the 
whites on the Kentucky borders had been postponed; that calls 
had been made for a general rendeA^ous of the Indians at Detroit; 
and for those at Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta,. Chillicothe, and intervening 
points to come on, bringing with them any captives they might 
have in their possession. Girty and his party, Avith the ^jrincipal 
portion of the Avarriors then at Wa-puc-ca-nat-ti, took up their 
march for the point designated. At the end of the third day's 
march, the party approached an Indian village situated on the 
Maumee River, a few miles above the spot Avhere the city of Toledo 
noAV stands. It was determined that the prisoners should be made 
to run the gauntlet again at this place; and as the Chillicothe 
Chiefs, and those residing at the Mad River toAvns Avere present, 
it Avas determined that the postponed trial of Rue and Holman 



121 

should be brought to a final conclusion. A generallialt was made. 
Their approach was heralded to the town. The usnal lines of 
painted savages were drawn up on either side of the path. The 
order of the chase was the same as at Wa-puc-ca-nat-ti, except 
that Hoiman's portion was not diluted with women and switches. 
A tall, active Indian was placed behind Eue with an old sword in 
his hand. At the given signal line darted down the line, receiving 
many blows from the clubs and hatchets of the Indians in the 
line, which stunned him so that his pursuer overtook him and hit 
him a couple of severe strokes over the head, which well nigh felled 
him to tbe ground. At this point he had reached a brush fence 
that enclosed several angles of the village, and, making a bound, 
cleared the fence and alighted on the other side: but finding his 
pursuer had crossed the fence at almost the same instant of time, 
Eue affected to stumble and fall to the ground. The Indian waved 
the sword over his head and motioned for him to get up and run. 
The prisoner laid still. The Indian stepped oft' eight or ten paces, 
and again told him to get up and run. The prostrate prisoner 
motioned with his hand for him to get back over the brush fence, 
which the Indian did, Rue feigning inability to proceed. The In- 
dian with the sword then walked back some ten or twelve paces 
from the fence, and urged the prisoner to run. As nimble as a cat 
Rue sprang from the ground, and darted into the council house 
before his pursuer could get within ten paces of him, amidst the 
deafening yells of the savages, who seemed to admire the stratagem 
used to avoid the jionderous blows of his pursuer. Holman was 
then passed down the lines, and made the goal with about as much 
flagellation as his savage tormentors thought he would be able to 
bear. 

The usual feast was then spread. After the feast was over, the 
Chiefs and warriors indulged in the scalp dance, which the prison- 
oners regarded as an ill omen to precede the council that was to 
decide their fate for weal or for v.-<ie. The dance ended. The 
grim warriors seated themselves in a circle around a prominent 
Chief, who rose and harrangued them for several minutes in an 
animated style and then took his seat. One Chief and warrior 
after another rose and addressed the council, until all the chief dig- 
nitaries had spoken. At times the debate became quite stormy, 
and it was witli difticulty the presiding sachem could keep order. 



1-2-2 

Tlic vote was finally taken, and it was evident to tlic prisoners 
that a liard verdict liad been rendered against them. The glances, 
gestures, and general demeanor of the council spoke the language 
of doom. In about a quarter of an hour after the council broke 
up, Girty informed the prisoners of their impending fate. The 
council had decided that they should be burned at the stake that 
night. The necessary preparations were made — dry sticks and 
brush were gathered and piled around in two circles, in the centei- 
of which a stake was firmly driven into the ground. The faces 
and hands of the two prisoners were blackened in the customary 
manner, and as the evening approached the two doomed young- 
men sat looking upon the setting sun for the last time, as the 
golden orb seemed to settle down behind the distant tree tops, 
throwing back a radiant smile upon the ruddy clouds, as if to re- 
mind the sufferers of that brighter sphere which awaits the spir- 
its of the just, after they have passed through the dark valley of 
the shadow of death — whether that death be by fire, water, or lin- 
gering disease. 

They prayed earnestly to (iod to turn aside the horrid fate 
that awaited them, if consistent with His divine wdll — that all 
power in heaven and earth belonged to Him — that He who had 
sustained Daniel in the den of lions, and the three Hebrew chil- 
dren in the fiery furnace, could turn the hearts of these fierce sav- 
ages, and melt them to pity. But, if it was not consistent watli 
His will to avert the impeding death, to prepare their souls for 
heaven and immortal happiness, and fill their hearts with forti- 
tude to pass througli the fiery ordeal with firmness and resigna- 
tion. 

An unusual excitement appeared to run through the fragments 
of the assembly, that lingered around the council house. High 
words and angry looks evinced a want of unanimity among the 
different tribes that composed the assembly. What was the 
cause of the dissatisfaction the prisoners could not learn, nor 
could they ascertain that it had any connection with the sentence 
in their case. At a pause in the contention, a noble looking In- 
dian approached Avhere the prisoners were sitting, and spoke a few 
words in the Mingo language to the guards. He then took Hol- 
man by the hand, lifted him to his feet, cut the cords that bound 
him to his fellow prisoner, caused the black to be taken off his 



123 

l";icf' and liaiids. |)ii( his hninl kiiuUy iipDii liis liead, u]id said : — 
" J adopt 3-(iu as my sun, to lill tho place of one 1 li.avc lately bu- 
ried — you aie now a kinsman of Logan, ' tlKMvliito man's friend,' 
as he has hesm called, but who has lately proven himself to be a 
tenible avenger of the wrongs inflicted upon him ])y the bloody 
d'csa]) and his men. (;irty, with evident reluetaiu'e, intei-prcted 
what he said, llolman felt that his prayer was answered, as far 
as concerned his own safety, and he almost fell to the ground at 
the sudden and unexpected announcement of his deliverance. But 
the sad fate that awaited his companion, nentralized his excess 
of joy, and he felt that life itself would be dear, if he had to wit- 
ness the excruciating torture and death of his friend, whom ho 
loved as a brother. 

The commutation of ilulmau's sentence, and the adoption of 
him into a family nearly related to Logan, sent a momentary 
thrill of pleasure throngh the breast of Rue, who, although doom- 
ed to die in a few -hours, still entertained a faint hope that 
something might transjiire to avert, or at least postpone his doom ; 
and should he even that night suffer at the stake, his friend might 
be spared to tell at som<^ future time of the sad fate of Hinton 
and himself. 

After a brief interval, two Indians a^iproached line with leath- 
ern thongs in their hands, cut loose the cords that l>ound his feet, 
raised him from the ground, stripped him, passed a coi'd undei- 
one arm and over the opposite shonldei-, wlii(di they tied -securely ; 
around this (licy passed the long, coiled leathern straj), and made 
it fast. These were regarded as the notes of preparation for tlie 
burning, anil Holnurn and Hue embraced each other most affec- 
tionately, with a soi'ro\V too deep for utterance or description, 
which would have nndted less obdurate hearts to pity. 

Ivuc was then led to one of the stakes in the center of the cir- 
cle of dried brushwf)od to whicdi he was tied fast. At this time 
a general contention pervaded the encampment — not a few tom- 
ahawks were brandished in the air, and scores of knives were 
seen glittering in the hands of exasperated Indians, who seemed 
to be in a general ferment. 

Just as the lighted faggots were about to l)e ajiplied to the dry 
Ijrush that encircled the devoted prisoner, a tall, active young Shaw- 
nee, a son of the victim's captor, sprang into the ring, and, with 



124 

liis tomaliawk, chopped off the cord that bound hiiu to the stake, 
led liim out of the ring amidst the deafening phaudits of a part of 
the crowd, and the execrations and threats of others who appear- 
ed determined that the death penalty shoukl he executed on the 
prisoner forthwith. The cool, defiant manner of the young In- 
dian who released the captive from the stake, held at hay the more 
cruel and bloody-minded, who, at a respectful distance, gnashed 
their teeth and inveighed against the lawless rescue, which the 
young brave had the temerity to make in the face of the very coun- 
cil that had condemned the prisoner. 

Regardless of threats and remonstrances, he caused water to be 
brought, and the black to be washed from the face ami hands of 
the prisoner, whose clothes were again placed upon him, when 
the young brave said: "I take this young man to be my brother, 
in the place of one I lately lost. I loved that brother well, 1 w-ill 
love this one too. My old mother will be glad when 1 tell her 
that I have brought her a son, in place of the dear departed one. 
We want no more victims. '^J'he burning of 'red-head' ought to 
satisfy us. These innocent young men do not merit such a cruel 
fate. 1 would rather die myself than see this adopted brother 
burnt at the stake." 

A loud enthusiastic shout of approbation showed that the young 
Shawnee had triumphed, while the more ruthless shrunk back 
from the lightning of his eye, which flashed defiance at all who 
chose to demur to his conduct on the occasion. He thought that 
a proper courtesy had not been shown to his father's claim to the 
young man he had captured. Some were in favor of re-assem- 
bling the council and reconsidering the vote that sentenced the 
prisoners to the stake ; while others, constituting a large majoi'i- 
ty, thought such action unnecessary, as the decree had been virtu- 
ally revoked by what had ti'anspired, with the concurrence of an 
overwhelming majority: who were won by the address and intre- 
pid daring of the young brave, whose love for his lost brother 
had caused him to peril his own life to gain a substitute for tho 
loved and lost. 

This sudden and unexpected change in affairs, although it re- 
sulted in the j-escuc of the prisoners from a cruel death, neverthe- 
less produced some discord among the different trib(.'s composing 
tlu! ])iirty, some of whom abaiblom'd tlic ti'ip to Detioit. otlicrs 



12[> 

loturned to Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta, a few tumed iheir course towardH 
ihe Mississinncwa, and the Wabash towiiw, wliile a portion con- 
tinncrl on to Detroit. Holman was taken back to Wa-puc-ca- 
nat-ta, wlierc he remained the most of the time during his captiv- 
ity. I-Iuo was taken lirst to the ^lississinnewa, tlien to the Wabasli 
towns. Two years of his eventful captivity were spent in that 
region of country watered liy the Wabash and Illinois rivers and 
their tributaries, lie gave accurate dcsci'iptions of many locali- 
ties along thcs^ rivers after a hipse of over Jifty years. 'I'he mouth 
of Tippecanoe River ; the Wea Town, and Prairie ; Black Rock ; 
the mouth of Big Pine Creek, whose steep rocky banks present- 
ed, in many places, overhanging" cliffs, ciowned with lofty ever- 
green pines, were frequently alluded to in his descriptions of the 
Wabash country. Lake Peoria, on the Illinois liver, at the upper 
end of the present city of Peoria,, and the Kankakee swamps 
were also frequently spoken of in his descriptions of the West 
The great natural meadows — prairie — described by the prisoners 
after their return from captivity, which they represoited as resem- 
bling largo open fields, extending as far as the eye could reach, 
without a tree, stump, or shrub of any kind : covered in summer 
with a rich carpet of grass, and flowers, and often with herds of 
grazing Baffaloes, weie regarded as of the Arabian Nights class 
of stories : it being impossible for those who have never seen 
these beautiful and extensive plains, to imagine how they would 
look. 

The last few months of Rue's captivity were spent at Detroit. 
I shall not attempt to give a full description of the various inci- 
dents of his long and painful captivity, which lasted three years 
and a half, and was terminated in the following manner : Rue 
and two of his fellow captives whose names are not recollected 
with sufficient certainty to give them a place in these pages, come 
to the conclusion to make their escape, if possible. In anticipa- 
tion of such an attempt, they had for some time been secretly pre- 
paring for their departure. At the time there were three or four 
different tribes of Indians assembled at the Parading House on the 
Lake shore near Detroit. A circumstance occurred during the 
dru,nken revels of the Indians which produced great excitement. 
One of the Indians lost a purse containing some ninety dollars 
in silver. Search was instituted in vain for the lost treasure. — 



126 

Wlio was the ihief? A'aiiuus were the coiijeeture.'-, and insiumv- 
tious ol' the exaspemted tribes, Avlio were abont to make it assuioe ;i 
national eliaraeter, wlien it was announced that there was a Sooth- 
sayer, or Prophet present, who belonged to another tribe from 
either of tluise wlm were disputing about the lost treasure, who, 
bv^ conjuration, could detect the thief ; and tell where the lost 
money was secreted, vvliich sto])ped all wrangling, until the learn- 
ed seer had tiiud liis arts of necromancy. The pi'ofossor of the 
black art, looking as solemn as an owl, unrolled a deer-skin upon 
the ground, with the licsli side up. He then drew from his belt 
a little bag of line sand, \vhich he emptied upon the deer-skin. — 
With a magic Avand about the size and length of an ordinary rifle 
ram-rod, he s})read the sand smoothly over the whole surface of 
the skin. The eagei' and deeply interested crowd with a solemn 
awe depicted in their countenances, encircled the magician, and 
awaited witli breathless silence the result of his divination. — 
Meanwhile the Prophet, as he was termed, silently gazed at the 
glittering surface of the sand for many minutes, without any defi- 
nite result. Thew after muttering over some half articulated 
spell-words, and looking awfidly wise, he took another long, 
steady gaze into the sand. Preka ! I'leka were not the words 
uttered by the venerable seei', but he said, "1 see the thief, and 
the stolen treasure."" "Wdio is he? Who?" .shouted a dozen 
voices — "tell his name, point him out, be it whomsoever it may.'* 
But the Prophet, feeling bound by a jjroper spirit of philanthro- 
py for his red brethren, and deeming that the disclosure might 
lead to the extermination of a tribe, or perhaps two or three tribes, 
before the matter ended, graAcly declared the impropriety of di- 
vulging a fact that might terminate so disastrously. He exoner- 
ated all those who had been charged with the theft, and said that 
the lost money had been taken and carried a\vay by a member of a 
difi'erent tribe from any of those embroiled in the quarrel. This 
imjiortant announcement quieted the dissentions of those who 
w^erc contending, and restored harmony and friendship among 
those who, Ijut a few hours before, were ready to use the knife and 
tomahawk upon each other. 

Hue and his comrades being witnesses of this display of the 
Prophet's professional skill, conckided at the iirst convenient 
opportunity to interrogate him in regard to the number, age, sex. 



127 

and ooiuiition of I heir ii'spCH/tivc I'amilies at lioino ; and wheUier 
tliey Avore all .still ali\('. and resided wliei-e they did when the\- 
were captured. 

A private clianee occuiied u itlun a lew days aftcrward.s, the fee 
wa.s agreed upon and paid, and the three prisouei's and the seer 
seated tlieuiselves amund the out;spread deev-skiu, covered with 
the enchanted sand. Al't<.'r a long silence, during whicli the 
Prophet looked steadily into the sand, he remarked that lie saw 
tiuo's folks passing about through the door-yaid, giving the num- 
ber of males and females, and their age and appearance with such 
accuracy that Hue at once considered hin\ a genuine wizzard. — 
The conjurer tlien lifted his eyes from the sand and remarked : 
"You all intend to make your escape — and you ^\ ill effect it soon.'' 
Then gazing into the sand he continued : ■■You will meet with 
many trials and liardships in passing over so wild a district of 
country, inhabited by so many hostile nations of Indians. You 
will almost starve to death ; but about ihe time you have given iip 
all ho]>e of iinding game to sustain you in your famished condi- 
tion, snecour will come when you least expect it. I see dimly 
the carcass of some wild animal taken as game, what it is I cau't 
(deai'ly see. It will be a masculine of some kind — after that you 
will iind plenty of game, and you will all ai'rive safely at your 
homes." They stoutly denied any intention or desire of escaping ; 
but at the same time told the wizzard that as they had paid him 
for his professional revelations, that they had implicit conhdenee 
thathe'would not divulge, except to themselves, any shadowings of 
the future that llitted over his sand-covered deer-skin. The old 
Prophet, acting upon the principle of letting every one attend to 
their own business, said nothing about the "eoniing events whieh 
cast their shadows before" in regaid to the escape of the jtrisoners. 
Whether his silence proceeded from his not wishing to meddle 
with the determinations of the fates, or from a fear that any rev- 
elations he might make, affeeting the interests of his patrons -who 
had confided their all to his prophetic skill and honor, might in- 
jure his Imsiness; oi' sim])ly iVom a sense of moral probity, it was 
difficult to judge. 

At length the set tinu> I'oi' theii- departure ariived, and they 
commenced their dubious journey thro' the wide wilderness, in- 
fested with wild beasts, and wild and bloody-minded savages, 



128 

whoso tender mercies, (with n few noble exceptions) they had 
long since learned were cruel. They knew that as soon as they 
were missed they wonld be pursued, and they pushed ahead as fast 
as possible the whole of the first night, and encamped about day- 
lirealc, without fire in a thicket, almost surrounded by a swamp. 
Here they lay concealed the whole day. Having eaten the scanty 
amount of victuals they had been able to stealthily abstract from 
the camp the morning they left, they began to feel pressed with 
hunger, but dare not venture from their concealment, lost they 
might be discovered and recaptured by the Indians, whom they 
well knew would h-ang upon their trail and ferret them out if pos- 
sible. They saw no game in their swampy retreat, and had they 
the sound of a gun might disclose their hiding-place. They 
crawled around and tried to catch some frogs which they saw 
plunging about in the stagnant waters that surrounded them; but 
were unable to catch even one frog. At dai'k they ventured out 
from their lurking-place, and pursued their perilous journey thro' 
the woods, gnided by the stars, when they shone, and when they 
were obscured, by the moss that grew on the north side of the 
trees — a fact well known to all woodsmen. Just before day 
they found a suitable place to ensconce themselves, where they 
laid down without striking a fire, weary and hungry. During the 
night they had made several fruitless efforts to catch rabbits, and 
other kinds of game that they had started up during their night- 
ly journey. Although Rue was well acquainted with the coun- 
try through which they were passing, (having traveled it over 
and over in company with his adopted brother, who saved him 
from the stake, and from whom he might have made his escape 
at different times) and where he might find any quantity of game ; 
yet he well knew the imminent danger that would attend their 
appearance at a deer-lick, or fishing-place frequented by the In- 
dians. Well knowing the cunning and persistent efforts that 
would be put forth by the Indians to retake them, they deemed 
it rashness in the extreme to fire off their guns, and were deter- 
mined not to do so, excej)t to prevent starvation. The morning 
of the third day found them so weak and exhausted by travel and 
hunger, that it was determined that Rue, who was a good hunter, 
should venture out in quest of game. He spent the most of the 
day in hunting but found no game, not even a bird nor a squirrel 



129 
to appease their gnawing hunger. By this ti;iie they had reach- 
ed the streams that led into the Wabash river, which Rue knew 
abounded with fine fish, but having no fisii hooks witii them, nor 
wire to construct any out ui", they deemed it too hazai'dous to at- 
tempt to spear any by torch-light. 80 they traveled on all that 
night without eating, or stopping to rest, but with the returning 
beams of the morning they sought a secure hiding-place as usual. 
Tiieir hunger now began to become insupportable, and although 
the woods and streams showed strong and fresh signs of Indians, 
it was determined that Iiiie, their Nimrod, must go in cpiest of 
game at all hazaids. lie scoured the woods for miles around, up 
hill and down dale, but strange to say, he could find no game of 
any description. A jay bird or a wood-pecker would have been a 
delicious morsel to these starving fugitives — but birds and beasts 
appeared to be, like themselves, hid amidst their woody fastnesses. 
About the middle of the afternoon Hue returned to camp, weary, 
dejected and luckless. Htarvation now stared them in the face. 
Had they wandered thus far on their weary march to starve in 
the inhospitable wilderness, and their bodies become the food of 
the night prowling Avolf — whose habits they had recently adopt- 
ed, at least as far as nocturnal rambling was concerned. At length 
another one of the fugitives arose from his prostrate position on 
the ground, and said, "Suppose 1 try my luck, or lack of luck 
once more." Then shouldering the best gun in the company, he 
walked slowly oft', and was soon hid in the darksome forest that 
surrounded them. But this persistent effort on the j^art of 
their comrade brought no hope to the minds of Rue and the other 
man, who well knew the want of skill on the part of the tleparted 
hunter. But the race is not always to the swift nor the battle to 
the strong, wliich was fully verified by the fact that in less than 
three hours after he started from the camp, the amateur hunter 
returned tottering under a small three-pronged buck, which 
he had killed and partly dressed. As he threw it upon the ground 
the words of the conjurer — "Jtis a masculine — after killing it you 
will find plenty of game, and your hardships will mostly be over." 
flashed across the mind of Rue, who now felt fully confirmed in 
the oracular wisdom of the old Indian, whose prophetic ken had 
so far penetrated the future as to see the carcass of tluit deer, 
which was so opportunely killed to save tliem from death by fam- 
9 



130 
ine. If it Avas a mere coincidence, or shrewd guess of the seer, 
they considered it strange beyond parallel. A fire was soon kin- 
dled, and a small portion of the deer Avas broiled. Tne experi- 
ence and sound judgment of the prisoners prevented their eat- 
ing too much of the delicious repast. They now had enough 
to last them several days, until they could kill more, and the last 
words of the conjurer threw the rainbow hues of hope over the 
remainder of their toilsome journey. When night arrived 
they pursued their journey with renewed strength and courage, 
carrying with them the fleshy portions of the venison, feeling 
comparatively safe. Alt bought they had traveled many miles 
from where they started, and in all probability were far oiit of 
reach of their pursuers, j^et they relaxed birt little in the prudent 
course they adopted at the start, of night traveling, and lying by 
in the daytime, and thus they entirely avoided discovery by the 
red men of the forest, who thickly inhabited the region through 
which they had passed. Had they been discovered by the Indians 
Avho inhabited the different portions of the country through which 
they passed, they would most likely not have been recognized as 
white men, for their dress, gait, manners and general appearance 
were completely Indian, from the painted feathers and porcupine 
quills that crowned the turban that encircled their foreheads, to 
the beads and ribbons that adorned their moccasins, and variega- 
ted the fanciful belts that surrounded their waists, bristling with 
scalping-knife and tomahawk. They found game plenty, and 
would have had a sufficient quantity of amunition to enable them 
to supply themselves with provisions to the end of their journey, 
had not an accident occurred, which reduced them again to a state 
of great destitution. 

On the twentieth day after they made their escape from near 
Detroit, they struck the Ohio river, about fifty miles above the 
Falls. The sight of this beautiful river, which they had not seen 
for over three years, sent a thrill of joy through their bosoms, and 
they set to work to construct a rude raft out of logs, to bear them 
down its sparkling current to the village of Louisville, where 
their toilsome and dangerous journey would be brought to a close. 
But before they had floated half the way to Louisville their frail 
raft was dashed to j)ieces by the white-caps raised by a stiff gale 
that swept up the river, and the three passengers with their guns. 



131 

blankets, und provisions were spilt out into tlie river. With dif- 
fic-ulty they rCcached the Kentucky shore, and crawled up the hank 
lookiny, as they aftervvartls said, like drowned rats. They lost 
all their guns but one, the whole of their provisions, and the most 
of their amunition and clothes. In this sad plight they struck 
out through the woods for llairodsburgh, where they arrived in 
safety, greatly fatigued and worn down by their long, perilous, 
and wearisome journey through the wilderness, und to the sur- 
prise and joy of their friends, wlio had long mourned them as 
dead. 

Edward Ilolman, Rue's brother-in-law, after a lapse of two 
years from the time the latter was taken prisoner, concluded he 
had been murdered by the Indians, proceeded to administer upon 
Rue's estate, and sold a lour acre out-lot, adjoining the village of 
Louisville, situated not far i'rum where the Court House now 
stands, at very low ligures, and the deed was regularly executed 
to the purchaser. 

On hnding his worldly effects all settled up in good faith, and 
his out-lot improved and occupied by air innocent purchaser, he 
concluded to take no steps to disturb the premature administra- 
tion ; and I suppose his numerous descendants and heirs (one of 
whom is the writer of these pages — -Richard Rue being the ma- 
ternal grandfather of the writer,) feel but little inclined to disturb 
a proceeding, however extra-judicial, which had been so long ac- 
quiesced in by their worthy ancestor. Rue married a relative of 
George Holman, his companion in captivity ; and was in several 
campaigns against the Indians, after his escape from captivity. 

On the return of Holman's party of Indians to Wa-puc-ca-nat- 
ta, much dissatisfaction existed in regard to the manner of his 
release from the sentence of condemnation pronounced against 
him by the council. Many were in favor of recalling the council, 
and trying him again; which was finally agreed to, and the young 
man was again put on trial for his life, with a strong jarobability 
of his being again condemned to the stake. Both parties used 
strenuous efforts, one to condemn, and the other to acquit him. — 
The votes were counted. The party in favor of the prisoner's ac- 
quittal prevailed by a majority of one, and the j^oung captive was 
again rescued from the stake. 

While with the Indians Holman saw them burn Richard Hoge- 



132 

land, a Keiituckian, who was taken prisoner at the defeat of Col. 
Crawford. They commenced burning him at nine o'clock at 
night, and continued roasting him until ten o'clock next morn- 
ing before he expired. During his excruciating tortures he begged 
for some of them to terminate his life and sufferings with a gun 
or tomahawk. Finally his cruel tormentors promised they would, 
and cut several deep gashes in his flesh with their tomahawks, 
and than shoveled up hotashas aai e!nb3ro and threw them into the 
gaping wounds. When dead they sLripp3:l off his scalp, cut him 
to pieces, burnt him to ashes, which they scattered through the 
town, to expel the evil spirits from it. 

About three years and a half after Hohuan was taken piisoner, 
there was a cessation of hostilities for about one year. The pro- 
tracted war had brought great distress upon the Indians, who 
wished to recruit themselves, and get more trading bouses estab- 
lished to furnish them with the necessary supplies. Holman un- 
derstanding their wishes, proposed if they would send a young 
Indian with him who knew the v/ay to the Falls of the Ohio, he 
would make application to a rich uncle of his in Kentucky, from 
whom they could obtain as much goods as they wanted. Their 
necessities induced them to coui|Hy with Holman's proposal. He 
in company with another prisoner and a young warrior, started 
from Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta- for the vicinity of liarrodsburgh, Ken- 
tucky. They struck the Ohio river a few miles above Louisville, 
Ky., where General Clark was then stationed with troops and 
military stores. On arriving at the river, Holman and his two 
companions lashed their guns and blankets upon their backs, and 
taking advantage of the current, swam over to the Kentucky side 
of the river. They stayed all night with Gen. Clark, at Louis- 
ville, who, after learning the object of their mission, told them 
to call for whatever they wautjd to procare the ransom of the 
two captives. Thus Holman and his fellow captive, for a 
small sum, paid in powder, lead, salt, handkerchiefs, &c., were 
ransomed by Gen. Clark, and in a few days Holman met his 
friend and fellow captive Rue, at Edward Holman's residence, in 
the vicinity of Harrodsburgh, Ky. Rue had arrived only three 
days before, and the reader can imagine, better than I can des- 
scribe, the transports of joy that thrilled the bosoms of those two 
noble young Kentuckians, on being released from the perils, toils 



133 

and sufferings of tlicir protiactcd captivity, and restored to the 
society of their friends — who were equally delighted with their 
unexpected retnrn. Hue and Holinan were hoth in one or two 
campaigns against the Indians, under Gen. Clark, after returning 
from their captivity. 

Both Eae and Holman lived many years in Woodford and 
Henry counties in Kentucky ; and in the year 1805, they, with 
their families, removed to Wayne county, Indiana Territory, and 
settled and lived close neighhors, on the same section of land, the 
remainder of their lives, ahout two miles south of where the city 
of Richmond now stands. 

Thej^ assisted in the organization of a separate Baptist Church 
at Klkliorn, of which they continued worthy and useful 
memhers as long as they lived, and enjoyed the confidence and 
good will of all who knew them. The hardships and exposure 
Rue suffered during his captivity with the Indians, undermined 
his mrturally strong constitution; and for the last twenty-five 
years of his life, he was so disabled by chronic rheumatism that 
he could not attend to any kind of manual labor, and for the most 
of the time was confined to his house and bed. He was gathered 
to his fathers some fifteen vears ago; having lived to see all of a 
numerous family, mostly daughters, married and settled around 
him. Holman, who also raised a large family, mostly sons, lived 
to quite an advanced age, retaining his physical and mental vigor 
to an astonishing degree, until the last moment of his life. His 
oldest sou, the Hon. Joseph Holman, was a member of the Con- 
stitutional Convention that framed the first Constitution of Indi- 
ana, in 1816; represented Wayne county in the State Legislature; 
and was by (.tcu. dackson appointed to a place in the Land office 
at Fort Wayne, and now resides at the old homestead near Rich- 
mond. His second son. Rev. Wm. Holman, was for many years 
Presiding Elder, and Stationed Minister of the M. E. Church at 
the city of Louisville, Ky. Another son, Washington Holman, 
represented Miami county in tliLi State Legislature many years 
since. 

Many years after peace had been csiablished, their old Indian 
relatives, as they called them, were in the habit of paying Rue 
and Holman annual visits, stayiug from one to two weeks at 
a time. I recollect that grandfatlier and INIr. Holman made a 



134 

great parade over the old vvrinkleil Indian men and squaws tliat 
visited tliem; and ordered their ponies to be well cared i'or. For 
hours together these ohl companions of the iorest, wouhl sit and 
converse in broken English, and in the Indian dialect, by signs, 
motions, looks, and all manner of ways, which used to both as- 
tonish and amuse the younger members of the family, who were 
often called in to light their pipes, and report the contlition of the 
ponies. First at Rue's, then at Holman's, and back again, once 
or twice during their stay, was the usual order of these peiiodical 
visits, which were continued during the liletime of their Indian 
relatives. Nothing that Rue or Holman possessed was deemed 
too good for these guests from the forest, who were always dis- 
missed with the utmost affection, and their ponies weie loaded 
with presents in the shape of tobacco, salt, flour, and other nick- 
nacks. I remember that on witnessing these acts of kindness on 
the part of my grandfather and Mr. Holman towards these swar- 
thy children of the wilderness, 1 thought they evinced quite a pe- 
culiar taste: very different from mine, and the majority of man- 
kind. But when we reflect that their lives had been spared, and 
their necessities supplied by these their adopted relatives, to the 
full extent of their abilities — we are constrained not only to ap- 
prove, but to admire such demonstrations of gratitude for favors 
conferred in the hour of extreme need. 

Holman departed this life on the 24th day of May, 1859 ; aged 
99 years, 3 months and 13 days, on'' his farm below Richmond, 
where he had resided for fifty-four years. He was calm and re- 
signed to the will of his Divine Master. After conversing fieely 
and affectionately with the relatives and friends who surrounded 
him, he gave diiectious in regard to his coffin, pall-bearers, and 
plan of burial, and died without a struggle, closing his own eyes. 



CHAPTER XX. 

T^RIF TO TURKEY CREEK PRAIRIE POTTO «"ATT0MIE MILLS LAKE 

MAXITAU LARGE SERPENT SEEX IX THE LAKE INDIAX TRADITIOX 

IX RELATIOX THERETO P.EXXACk's FORD OX TIPPECANOE RIVER 

BEXXACK's want of HOSPITALITY YELLOW RIVER COUXTRY 

M'caRTXEY's, ox TURKEY" CREEK PRAIRIE HEAD OF TIPPECAXOE 

INDIAX W031EX, THEIR PONIES, PAPPOOSES, &C. 

On the 10th day of January, 1834r, Maj. C. and myself, accord- 
ing to previous arrangements, set out from Lafayette to explore 
that portion of Indiana comprised within the present boundaries 
of the counties of Fulton, Pulaski, Marshall, Stark, Kosciosko 
and Elkhart. 

A journey of one or two hundred miles was not then, as now, 
performed in a few hours. It took some forethought and prepa- 
ration for such a tedious and fatiguing journey in those days. — 
Good horses, saddles, and saddle-bags, well stuffed with necessa- 
ries for a frontier ranger were carefully provided. The first day 
we reached Delphi about 1 o'clock P. M., and stayed over night 
.at Lockport. The next day we reached Logansport by noon, 
and the same night stopped at a farm house some six miles north 
of Logansport on the Michigan road: having ridden leisurely and 
•examined the lands on Eel river for the most of the afternoon — 
being "land hunters" on the look out for land to enter. Our 
frontier landlord advised us to go on to the Pottowattomie Mills, 
erected at the outlet of Lake Manitau, some twenty miles north 
of where he lived, and from that point to keep up the Tippecanoe 
river to its head near Turkey Creek Prairie. 

We followed his directions and took up our lonesome journey 
along the frozen Michigan road, which led through a dense con- 
tinuous forest. In the afternoon we arrived at a Mr. Bozarth's, 
near the Pottowattomie mills. Plis small, double cabin, which 



136 
stood near where the town of Rochester now stands, was a wel- 
come wight to us — being the only house we had seen after we 
started in the morning. Here we stopped for tho night, and were 
well entertained by Mr. Bozarth and his pleasant and interesting 
family, Avho, though domiciled in the wilderness, would have 
graced the better circles of metropolitan life. 

After early breakfast we started on our journey, j^assing the 
Pottowattomie mills during the iirst half hour's ride. We stop- 
ped for a short time and viewed the celebrated Lake Manitau, or 
"Devil's Lake," where the Lidians averred a huge monster had 
been seen in the shape of a serpent, which defied all human efforts 
to snare it. There was a tradition existing among the Pottowat- 
tomie Indians that there was a monster in the shape of a serpent 
existed in this lake long before they crossed the "hard waters of 
the north." 

Their superstitious dread of this lake was such that they would 
not hunt upon its borders, nor fish in its waters for fear of incur- 
ring the anger of the Evil spirit that made its home in this little 
woodland lake, which is perhaps some three or four miles in length, 
with a breadth averaging from one-fourth to a half mile, quite 
irregular, sometimes cjuite narrow for several hundred yards, re- 
sembling a narrow sluggish river, at other places widening intO' 
bays, and more extended sheets of water, that reflected sky and 
forest like a mirror. The appearance of the ground indicated that 
it had originally been much larger, and that its waters had grad- 
ually receded; which fact was confirmed by some of the earliest 
settlers of the neighborhood, who said they had fished years be- 
fore in portions of the lake which had become partially, or entire- 
ly dry land. 

When the Government officers were about erecting the Potto- 
wattomie mills, the Indians strenuously objected to the erection 
of a dam at the outlet of the lake, lest its accumulated waters 
might disturb and overflow the subterranean chambers of Ma ni- 
tau, and the exasperated demon rush forth from his watery do- 
minions and take indiscriminate vengeance on all those who resi- 
ded near the sacred lake — and to convince the government offici als 
of the real existence of this monster, and his terrible paroxisms 
of rage, which were periodical, they stated that at certain seasons 
of the year, the fishes became so alarmed that they rushed pell 



137 

mell to the outlet of the lake iu largo schools, or shoals, to es- 
cape the exasperated monster that threatened their destruction. 

I have been informed tluit Austin W. Morris, who completed 
the survey of the lake fortlie erection of the mills, said that seve- 
ral of his iiag-men, while assisting in its survey had hecorae 
alarmed and made to shore, declaring that they had seen a mon- 
ster in the water — and for awiiiie it was difficult for him to get a 
a man to carry the red Hag. Whether they really saw anything 
terrible in the water, or their fears were meiely the result of an 
excited imaginalion, after hearing the Indian legends, Mr. Morris 
never pretended to say. 

In confirmation of the tradition above alluded to, in the year 
1837, there appeai'cd in the columns of the Logansport Telegraph, 
a communication supposed to have been written by our Artist 
George Winter, giving a more particular and circumstantial des- 
cription of the monster from an account given to him by a fishing 
party who said they had seen the serpent, which they represented 
as being "about sixty feet long, the frontal bone three feet across, 
with eyes as large as saucers." 

The correspondent's description of the monster produced quite 
a sensation among the good people of Logansport and the sur- 
rounding country, and a party of fifteen or twenty daring spirits, 
inchuling several scientific gentlemen, was formed to go to the 
lake, on a certain day, with fishing tackle after the manner of 
Barry Cornwall's fisherman, haipoons, spears, &.C., to fish out 
the Leviathan, Demon, or whatever it might be that by this time 
had got a character equal to a first class sea serpent. 

A sickly season, combined with other circumstances, prevented 
this grand piscatorial enterprize, which had been planned on a 
magnificent scale, and publicly advertised throughout the country 
for weeks ; and his wonderful snakeship escaped the levi athan 
hooks and snares which had been ])repared to lift him from his 
watery houv, and (perhaps) his capacious stuffed skin from being 
exhibited by Barnum all over the world. 

From Lake Manitau we proceeded on our journey up the Tip- 
pecanoe. Our trace passed through the timber land of the Yel- 
low River country — which reminded me of the dense forests of 
Hamilton and Boone counties. We were told that we would no 
see a house after leaving the mills, except that of Bennack, a half 



138 
breed, and one of the head men among the Pottowattomies, at 
the crossing of Tij/pecanoe river, nntil we arrived at McCartney's, 
an ohl Indian trailer, on Turkey Creek Prairie; but as examining 
the face of the country, with a view of entering ]an(], was the ob- 
ject of our trip, wo had no objection to see it in its primitive 
grandeur, unmarred and unmolested by the hand of man. 

About twelve o'clock we arrived at the crossing of Tippecanoe, 
about half a mile below Bennack's village Here we alighted and 
partook of our noon lunch, and examined the ford where our road 
crossed the river. The ice had melted away fiom the shore Avhere 
we were for more than a rod, while the rest of the stream was 
coveied Avith ice which appeared sufficiently strong to bear up our 
horses, piovided we could get them upon it. As the horse I rode was 
the lightest, we concluded to lead him in and pass him over first, 
which was done with much difficulty, as the edge of the ice where 
the horse first reached it, struck him about the middle of his 
breast, and he by much uiging spiaing upon it with a bound. It 
bore him up, and he was led to the opposite shore. With diffi- 
culty we got the Majoi's horse to the edge of the ice, and after 
much coaxing and patting upon his head, we got him to make a 
bound — the ice broke; he made another spring, and it broke again 
— he made one plunge after another until he broke the ford open 
from one side of the stream to the other, the Major meanwhile 
clinging hold of the l)ridlo jcins on the upper side to prevent the 
deep strong current from drawing the horse under the ice. We 
mounted our horses shivering with cold, and rattling with icicles, 
and hastened to Bennack's to warm, and dry ourselves and horses. 
Imagine our surprise and chagrin, when calling at his cabin door 
for admittance, he, alter much dcday, cautiously opened tlie door 
a few inches only, and asked what we wanted. We told him our 
sad plight, and that we wished to stop a few minutes to Avarm by 
his lire. He made no reply, but immediately closed the door in 
our face. The Indians peeped out from their wigwams which 
surrounded Bennack's cabin, with evident surprise and mortifica- 
tion at his want of hospitality. For a moment we thought we 
would stop at a wigwam and warm by the Indians' camp-fire, but 
changed our mind, and rode on along the trace to Tuikey Creek 
Prairie, wet, cold, and slightly out of humor. 

Late in the evening we arrived at McCaitney's, on the south 



139 

side of Turkoy Creek Prairie, near the cluster of lakes that form 
the head of Tippecanoe. McCartney had married a daugliter of 
Bennack, and was absent on a trip to Washington City, to pro- 
cure a patent, as we were informed, for a section of reserve land, 
which he had married with his "pretty young squaw." Ben. 
Murst, Esq., one of Indiana's okUist lawyers, and one of General 
Harrison's aids at the I^attle of Tippecanoe, resided at McCart- 
ney's during his absence to Washington, to sujjerinteud his busi- 
ness; and to guard his wife Mary from being spirited away by lier 
father, who had become dissatisfied ^vith the match, and declared 
the marriage a nullity: having been solemnized by an officer of 
Cass county, on Indian territory, which he insisted was without 
the jurisdiction of the officer. 

We sj^i^'it twu or three da3's in looking at the country surrounding 
the big and little Turkey Creek Prairies, and passing over portions 
of what now lies within the limits of Marshall, Elkhart and Kosci- 
osco counties, then a wild, uncultivated region, which contained 
fifty Indians for every white man. But few white families had 
peaetrated this front ier region, and the Major and myself conclu- 
ded tluit although the land was rich and productive, it was so re- 
mote from schools, churches, and other advantages of civilization 
ihat we did not feel like pitching our taberacles in that out-of-the- 
■way place- Every day we met with Indians, who were exceed- 
ingly friendly, and invariably inquired for Good-ne-tosh (whisky), 
offering to exchange moccasins, fur skins, or even pay the cash 
for it One morning a troop of about twenty squaws and pap- 
pooses mounted on ponies i'ollowcd lis for more than a mile, be- 
seeching us for whisky, which was a contraband article, prohibi- 
ted by law from being bartered to the Indians. In order to get 
rid of such an escort over the prairies, the Majur pulled out a pint 
flask of whisky from his saddle-bags, (which we had taken along 
with us to doctor our horses in case they became sick) and held 
it up as a prize to whoever could ride and take it out of his hand, 
meanwhile spurring up his horse to a gallop. Helter skelter 
dashed along the squaws on the ponies to seize the prize, the 
Major urging up his horse, and the squaws and pappooses goad- 
ing on their ponies to full speed. One old squaw dashed ahead of 
the rest and seized the bottle. The rest soon circled around her. 
She took out the cork and drank our "verv good health," and 



140 
handed it to another until it passed ronnd ; the younger ■■.vomeii'i 
and children touching it but lightly. The Major told them to 
pass it around again, Avhich was done, and the empty hottle thvowm. 
in the grass. The old squaw thanked us politely for the wliislcy, 
and a few crackers wo had given to the children, and invited «b 
to their camp about a mile off, which invitation we courteously 
declined. 

The liquor soon made the old woman feel like exhibiting her 
pOAvers of horsemanship, and after telling the little urchin that 
rode behind her to"hold fast," dashed off at full speed of her pony, 
followed by the rest, the children clinging on behind their moth- 
ers and aunts, dashed from side to side, up and down, like Gil- 
pin's jugs, as far as we could see them, and their wild halloo rxnag 
upon the air for several minutes after they turned into the timber 
where their village stood. 

While at McCartney's we got sight of his "handsome young 
squaw," of whose beauty we had heard so much. She appearetl 
to be about twenty years of age, of medium stature, thick set,, 
and was handsomely dressed in Indian costx;me. I have seen.' 
many handsomer Indian women, and thought at the time, that 
her being Bennack's daughter, and owning a section of land, 
added charms that could not be appreciated by every beholder. 

A graphic likeness of Bennack may be seen in a group of por- 
traits of distinguished Chiefs, head men, and warriors of the Pot- 
towattomie nation, in the studio of our able artist George Winter, 
whose paintings are much admired by all judges of the fine arts- 
This group of portraits of the chiefs and braves of a once pow- 
erful and warlike race, with many landscape views af scene.? on 
the Wabash, and other rare productions of his pencil, are of ines- 
timable value to posterity, on account of their lifelike delinea- 
tions. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

eXEAMDOAT TRU'8 TO LOOANSPOKT AND PERU IN 1834-'o5 DIFKl- 

COLTIES OF NAVIGATION, HOW OVERCOME AFFRAY AT PERU, AND 

THE STEAMER SCIENCE DRIVEN FROM THE WHARF F>Y THE EXCITED 
LABORERS ON THE LINE OF THE CANAL. 

Altliongh Lafayette was generally regarded as the Lead of 
steamboat navigation on the Wabash, yet many boats ascended 
as high np the river as Delphi, and even higher; and Logansport 
and Peru put in their claims for the honor of being the head of 
steamboat navigation. The merchants of these two last mentioned 
towns, having previously had their goods landed at Lafayette and 
Delphi, became tired of hauling them in wagons, or conveying 
•them by keel-boats the balance of the way, were anxious to ship 
their goods on boats at Cincinnati, Louisville and Pittsburg, that 
would engage to deliver them at the wharves of their respective 
towns. 

A few light draught steamers were secured, whose masters 
promised to gratify those merchants, in case the stage of the wa- 
vtet permitted when they arrived on the upper Wabash. 

During the June freshet in 1834, a little steamer, called the 
Republican, advertised that she would leave the wharf at Lafay- 
ette for Logansport on a given day. A few of us concluded to 
take a pleasure trip on the Republican, and be of the pioneer 
steamboat that would land at Logansport, a thriving town situa- 
ted at the coniluence of the Wabash and Eel rivers, in the heart 
of a beautiful and fertile region of country. At the hour appointed 
the Republican left the landing at Lafayette, under a good head 
of steam, and " walked the waters like a thing of liib." We 



142 

soon passed Cedar Bluffs, Davis' Feiry, the nronlfis of Wild Cat 
and Tippecanoe, and began to anticipate a Cjuick and sncces.sful 
trip. But soon after passing the Delphi landing, the boat stuck fast 
upon a sand-bar, which detained us for several hours. Anotlier 
and another obstruction was met with every few miles, which were 
overcome with much difficulty, labor, and delay. At eacli .suc- 
cessive sand-bar the most of the boat's crew, and many of the, 
passengers i^ot out into the water and lifted at the boat, or pulled, 
upon a large rope that Avas extended to the shore — an important 
auxiliary to steam power to propel the vessel over these obstruc-- 
tions. Night overtook us stuck fast upon the bottom of the river- 
below I'ipton's port. 

"Tired nature's sweet i-estorer — balmy sleep,"' re-invigoratod 
all hands for the labors of the following day, which Avas spient in 
a similar manner to the afternoon of the day before, in lifting in 
the water and pulling at the capstan. At length we arrived at 
Georgetown Rapids, about seven miles below Logansport, which 
we was informed was the only shoal water we would have before 
reaching our destination. 

Here extraordinary efforts were made to ascend the Eapids. — 
Col. Pollard and Job B. Eldridge, Esq., of Logansport, who had 
goods on board, and were both laboring in the water and at the' 
capstan, were particularly anxious that Captain Towe should reach, 
that place, and his boat have the honor and advantage of being, 
the first steamer that had ascended as high as that p)oint, and re- 
ceive a bonus of several hundred dollars, that had been offered as 
a premium to the captain of the first steamer that should land at 
their wharf. 

Several days and nights were spent in fruitless attempts to get 
over the rapids. All hands, except the women, and a few others, 
were frequently in the water up to their chins, for hours together^^ 
endeavoring to lift the boat off the bar. The water fell rapidly, 
and prevented the boat from either ascending farther up, or return- 
ing down the river. While at this place we were visited by seve- 
ral companies of well dressed and fine looking Miami and Potto- 
wattomie Indians, of all ages and sexes, who would sit for bocrs 
on the bank admiring the boat, which they greatly desired to see 
in motion, under a full head of steam. After four days and nights^ 



143 

ineffectual efforts to proceed, the boat was abaudoucd by all ex- 
cept the captain and part of his ciew. 

Two or three weeks afterwards over a dozen yokes of large oxen 
were brought down from Logansport, and the Eepiiblican was 
hauled over ripples and sand-bars to Logansport, and the citizens 
of that place, and the surrounding coxintiy had the luxury of a 
steamboat arrival on the 4th of July, and (!aptain Towe had the 
(doubtful) honor of being the commandei- of the first steamboat 
that visited Logansport; for it cost him his boat, which bilged soon 
after its arrival in port, and its hull, years afterwards, might be 
ijeen lying sunk to the bottom of the Wabash near its conlluence 
with the waters of Eel river. 

During the next summer there was another June freshet in (he 
Wabash, and the steamboat Science was advertised for a trip to 
Logansport, Peru, and Chief Godfroy's Village above the mouth 
of the Mississmnewa. The unusually high stage of the river 
gave fine promise of a successful trip, and some seventy or eigiity 
of the citizens of Lafayette, a majority of whom were ladies, 
went on board for a pleasure trip up the Wabash. At Delphi and 
other points along the river, considerable accessions were made to 
our company. The boat reached Logansport without any diffi- 
culty. There was a large increase of passengers fi'om this point. 
TheTiptons, Lasselles, Durets, Polks, dohnsons, and many others 
of the old settlers of the town turned out, many of them Avitli 
their entire families, for a steamboat excursion, to visit the neigh- 
boring town of Peru, and their aboriginal neighbors, and valua- 
ble customers at Godfroy's Village. 

The boat left the wharf at Logansport under a full head of 
steam, which was considered necessary to carry her over the rap- 
ids a short distance above town. Our gallant boat failed to make 
the ripple — and after pufdng and snorting for about two hours 
without gaining over forty feet, she dropped back to the foot of 
the rapids, wdiere several hundred of the passengers went ashore 
to walk round the rapids, and preparations were made for an ex- 
tra effort to ascend the rapids. Rosin, tar, and sides of bacon 
were freely cast into the fire, to create more steam, and another 
longer and stronger effort was made to get over the rapids, but in 
vain. Several old men, and invalids, and quite a number of la- 
dies remained on board the boat. On this second attempt to get 



144 

over the rapids, all of us who remained on tho boat were in great 
danger of losing our lives. By some means the boat became un- 
manageable, and darted in a backward and lateral direction to- 
wards an island, swift as the rapid current could carry it. On 
seeing this sudden change in the course of the boat, the captain, 
mate, and several of the boat's crew leaped overboard with a large 
cable in their hands, on witnessing which soma of the passengers 
cried, "We aie all lost!" The women shrieked and clung to 
each other and their male friends in knots in different parts of the 
ladies' cabin. I remember of saying, "no danger, no danger," 
as I pressed to the door of tlie ladies' saloon, from which I intend- 
ed to spring out into the rivei-; but on opening the door, I found 
three female acquaintances clinging to my arms and coat skirts, de- 
claring they would go with me, if I left the boat. Quick as elec- 
tricity the thought flashed through my mind that it would be im- 
possible for me to swim ashore with so many holding fast to me; 
and just at that moment the keel of the boat near the middle 
struck upon a stone in the bed of the river, which turned the boat 
out into the stream, and she darted like an arrow past the island, 
upon which she would have been dashed to pieces, had she not, 
providentially, hit upon the stone, to which circumstance the cap- 
tain attributed the saving of his boat, and perhaps the lives of a 
majority of those on board at the time. 

After thus narrowly escaping the destruction of his boat, the 
captain deemed .it prudent to drop down to Logansport again, and 
lighten the boat. Over two hundred barrels of flour and salt were 
taken off the boat, which hxid that night at tho landing at Logans- 
port — and one hundred or more of the citizens of Lafayette and 
Delphi shared the hospitality of their neighbors at Logansport. — 
After all the hotels and boarding houses were filled to overflow- 
ing, private houses were thrown open to accommodate those who 
could not get lodging oix the boat, and next morning scores were 
willing to bear witness to the kindness and hospitality of the cit- 
izens of Logansport. 

After breakfast the most of the passengers walked round the 
rapids, and the steamer passed over them the first effort. All 
joined in congratulations for the success of the morning, which 
was considered afavorobleomen for a successful and jileasant trip. 
We soon reached Miamisburg and Peru, two little rival towns on 



145 

tlie west bank of tlie Wabasli. Having business with a man wlio 
lived a mile or two above Pern, I left the boat, procured a liorse, 
and rode out to transact my business, wliilc tlie steamboat passed 
up to tire moutb of the Mississinnewa and Godfrey's Village, to 
receive the congratulations, and premium of the Old Chief, who 
was highly delighted to receive the visit, and who no doubt well 
compensated the Captain for his call at his town. I hurried back 
from the country, and arrived at Peru just as the boat landed on 
her return from the mouth of the Mississinnewa. I made haste 
to get on board, and just as I was stepping upon the plank that 
led on to the boat, a fight or two commenced between a party that 
came up from Logansport and some Peruvians, which blocked up 
the gangway so that I could not get on the boat. The excite- 
ment ran high throughout the large crowd, and the battle waxed 
warmer and bloodier. I stood and looked on for several minutes, 
and was of the opinion that there were at least eight or ten fights 
all progressing at the same time. The Logansport party was 
about to prove too hard for their antagonists, who began to sing 
out for help. There were several hundred Irislmien near at hand, 
working on the Wabash & Erie Canal, who, observing the foray, 
and considering it a free fight, could no longer resist the tempta- 
tion to pitch in; and gathering their picks and spades, they rushed 
in platoons upon the belligerents, and soon vancjuished the party 
who had proved strongest in the melee, compelling them to betake 
themselves to the boat, in double-c|uick time, shouting, "the 
Greek ! the Greek !!" On looking up and down the line of the 
canal for a mile and a half in either direction, Irish recruits were 
seen pressing for the scene of action, with picks in their hands, and 
wrath on their foreheads. "We Avill sink your d — d dug-out, be 
jabers !" rung like a knell upon the ears of the astonished boat 
crew, who at the Captain's command pulled in the plank and 
pushed off into the river, to keep the enraged Hibernians from 
demolishing his vessel. 

At first the boat dropped slowly along with the current, and 
the Captain from the hurricane deck motioned for those who had 
failed to get on board, to follow along the shore, where he would 
land and take us on, after he got beyond danger from the "Greeks," 
as the Hoosiers in those days called the Irish. The assailants 
watched the motions of the Captain, and determining to thwart 

10 



his purpose, pursued iherioating palace aloug shore for more than 
.1 mile, and prevented the landing of the boat. I stood at the 
wharf Avith my port-maiiteau on my arm, a sad spectator of the 
shifting panorama that was passing before me, in -which, for a 
while I was a figure in the back-ground. At length I was dis- 
covered amidst the wreathing, swaying crowd, and recognized as 
one of the passengers belonging to the boat. A son of Innisfail 
sung out, "This divil belongs to the boat!" whereupon I was 
instantlv surrounded by moie than a score of the exasperated 
o-ang, Avho had arrived too late to get one blow in the fight, and 
felt like wreaking their disappointed vengeance upon me. One 
remarked, "T would as lave kill him as a snake," while another 
muttered out, "and I, too, would as lave kill him as a nager." 
I told them that it was true that I came up as a passenger on the 
boat, but that I had no interest in the boat, nor in the belliger- 
ents who had occasioned the hub-bub. Angry glances were cast 
on me, and several persons at different times lifted their picks to 
dispatch me. I kept pressing gradually towards the hotel, and 
the augmented crowd kept circling closer around me. At length 
one of the party said: "It is a shame to impose upon a lame man 
— see, he limps." In an instant the scene changed — all were for 
protecting the "poor lame man," and no returning Roman con- 
queror was ever marched through the streets of the seven-hilled 
city in greater triumph, than I was marched through the woods 
by this troop of impulsive Irishmen, to Tarkington's hotel, where 
mvself and five others from Lafayette, two men and three women, 
were compelled to remain imtil we could find some way to return 
home, which was quite a difficult task, as there were no stage- 
coaches or other public conveyances then lunning between Peru 
and Logansport. 

I soon learned the cause of the hostility of the Irishmen, and 
quaked at the thought of the narrow escape I had made. On the 
Sabbath before my arrival, one Hoosier and two Irishmen were 
said to have been killed, and several Irishmen wounded, in a 
fracas which took place a few miles above Peru; and but a few 
weeks before the Governor of the State ordered General Tipton 
to call out the militia to suppress the riots that ever and anon 
disturbed the quiet of the laborers on the line of the canal. 

A short time before, James B. Johnson, one of the canal com- 



147 

iiiissiouers of tlic State, was robbed in J'eru of between tliirtv ami 
forty thousand dollars of tlie jniblic funds, which he carried in a 
large pair of saddle-hags, for the purpose of paying out to con- 
tractors on the canal. The money was taken from the store of a 
friend and acquaintance of the commissioner, where it had been 
placed for safe kee2:)ing. Suspicion attached to a young man who 
slept in the store, Avho had hitherto maintained an unblemished 
character. The young man appeared to be surprised and morti- 
fied that his honesty should be susj^ected. His conduct Avas 
closely watched during the whole of the next day, without observ- 
ing the least circumstance calculated to strengthen the su.spicion. 
A consultation was held. It was decided that the susj^ected 
individual sliould be arraigned and tried that night before Judge 
Jjynch. Many respectable and influential citizens volunteered to 
assist in procuring for him a speedy and fair trial. At the hour 
appointed, the young man Avas escorted to a thick woods neai- 
the edge of the village, and told that unless he confessed his 
guilt, and gave up the funds, they would l)ind hiin to a tree and 
whip him until he was willing to d<> so. H<! still denied his 
guilt. They tied him to a tree and gave him thirty or forty 
lashes with a raw hide, well laid on, and asked him if be was 
willing to confess. He still declared his innocence. 'I'hey then 
gave liim about a score of additional lashes, which cut deep 
furrows in his back, the blood following every stroke. The 
accused then said if they would desist he would show them the 
lost treasure. They untied him from the tree, and he took them 
to a bank of earth that had recently been thrown out of the canal, 
and told them to dig into that bank and they would find the 
money. They dug and examined the earth carefully, but found 
no money. He said he must be mistaken in the place. Then he 
examineil up and down the Inink of earth for several rods, and 
selected another spot, which he thought would prove to be the 
right one. Thus he kept removing from place to place until they 
became tired of digging, and concluded to resume the whipping 
process. The crowd told him as it was drawing towards day- 
break, and they wore satisfied of his guilt beyond a reasonable 
iloubt, they would finish their work at once. So they tied him 
up for the last time, as they called it, and commenced plying the 
fow-hide with such eaiiiest that he concluded they had got in a 



148 
hurry to dispatch liim and get liim out of the way. He soon 
cried out, "I now recollect the very spot where the money is 
concealed, and if you will let me point out the place, and jon 
fail to find the treasure at the designated spot, you may then 
whip me to death." After a short parley the lynchers took him 
down, and followed him to a bank of the Wahash river, where he 
stooped down, and, after scratching awhile in the sand, brought 
out several large packages of bank bills, on which were the orig- 
inal envelopes. A general joy was felt at the success of the 
enterprise, which was soon dampened, however, by the reflection 
that they still had the mangled culprit on their hands, with a 
stron'»" probability that he ^vould either put the law in force 
ao"ainst them, for their high-handed assumption of legal authority, 
or die from the effects of the severe scourging he had received at 
their hands. The thief knew that if he lived he would be sure of 
the State prison, and the lynchers felt satisfied that if the trans- 
gressor survived the chastisement, they would be severely handled 
for the outrage committed by them; and should he die, the 
consequences might be quite serious to all who aided or abetted 
in the tragedy. 

After a brief conference between the parties, the following com- 
promise was agreed ujion: Tbe lynchers agreed to give the felon 
a horse, saddle and bridle, and one hundred dollars in money, if 
he would immediately leave the country and never return again, 
which proposition was gladly acce^^ted by the lacerated criminal, 
who felt that he could breathe more freely, and perhaps longer, if 
he could escape from his tormentors; and before the rosy fingers 
of morning streaked the east, the guilty young man was making 
his exit out of the country, well assured of the truth of the scrip- 
tural declaration — "the way of the transgressor is hard." 

Upon counting the money, it was found that a package of five 
hundred dollars was missing — which it was supposed had been 
given to some accomplice, or secreted in a different place. 

The citizens of Peru were in constant fear that the Irish, who 
were much more numerous than the citizens of the town, would 
rise and sack the village, as they had frequently threatened to do, 
and kill off the inhabitants. 

About eleven o'clock one night, while three or four of us were 
watching by the bedside of John Bush, Esq., who was lying 



149 

qxiite low at Taikington's hotel, of billions fever, we heard three 
or four guns fired in rapid succession, and a cry of "murder!" 
"murder!" near a grocery that stood in the woods a short dis- 
tance from Fullenwider's store. After a brief pause another gun 
was fired, and the cry of murder was again resumed, with a volley 
of oaths in the Irish brogue. "The Irish have attacked the town 
in real earnest," Avas the voluntary expression of several of the 
company. The sick man told a Mr. Jameson, a tall plasterei% 
who was one of the watchers, to go into the next room and get 
his pistol, which was well loaded. We held a brief council of 
war at the front door of the hotel, at which it was decided that 
two runners should pass round and wake up the inhabitants of the 
village, and request the men generally to rendezvous at Alex. 
Wilson's store, bringing their guns and other fighting imple- 
ments with them. In a short time thirteen men met in front of 
Wilson's store, and immediately elected Alexander Wilson cap- 
tain (who was afterwards a captain in the war with Mexico), and 
Jameson and another man were sent ahead of the main column to> 
reconnoitre. In a few minutes the scouts returned, with informa- 
tion that the enemy had taken possession of a grocery near 
Fullenwider's store. Jameson said that he fell in with one 
of the advance guard of the enemy, who had a gun; that he 
cocked his pistol and demanded him to surrender; biit not being 
able to find the trigger of his pistol, he was compelled himself to 
retreat. Wilson showed him that he had not fully cocked the 
pistol. Elated with this discovery, Jameson was for rushing back 
upon his adversary, but the captain prudently restrained his ardor, 
and gave command for a general and simultaneous charge of our 
forces. At this time Jameson and James Miller, the druggist, an 
old acquaintance of mine, told me to go back and take care of 
Bush — that it was "no place for a lame man" — that if they were 
forced to retreat, I could not run. I insisted on going with the 
army, and told tliem if they expected to run, they had better not 
make the charge. At the word "charge," given in a low tone, 
our little squad moved forward with guns, pistols, axes and clubs, 
while I occupied the position of Marshal Ncy in the retreat from 
Moscow, bringing up the rear, being unable to keep up with the 
main body. The grocery was soon surrounded, and our captain 
demanded the enemy to surrender. After a biio'" |i,iilcy, two or 



150 

three of the insiders eame out tn ngree upon terms of capitulation. 
As soon as it was discovered who they were that had caused the 
alarm, our captain's wrath coukl scarcely be restrained. They 
were a few drunken revelers of the town, who, to get up an excite- 
ment, had fired off guns, cried murder in the Irish brogue, smashed 
in the windows and doors of the grocery, pounded on empty 
whiskey barrels with hoop-poles, (fee. — all for fun. Capt. Wilson 
felt so indignant at the drunken rowdies, that he pulled off his 
shot-pouch and hung it upon the muzzle of his gun, which he 
leaned up against the side of the grocery, and was about to thrash 
a few of the leaders of the maudlin band. 

Next morning a few of the ring-leaders of the bacchanalian 
band were arrested, tried, mulct in heavy fines, and sent down to 
Logansport and imprisoned for several weeks — there being no 
jail in Peru at the time. 

Three weeks after leaving Lafayette, to which place I expected 
to return with the boat, I luckily met with an opportunity of 
returning, in company with some of Mr. Bush's relatives, who 
had been attending him during his protracted illness. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

COLLEGES AT CRAWFORDSVILLE AND GIIEENCASTLE ORGAXIZED 

FIRST APPEARANCE OP CHOLERA ON THE WABASH REMOVAL OF 

THE INDIANS DEATHS OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN STATESMEN 

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS CLOSING REMARKS. 

The Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, was projected in 1832, 
under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church. In the Fall of 
1833, a Primary Department was organized under the charge of 
Professor Mills, who ever since has been connected with said 
College, except one term he served in the office of Superintendent 
of Public Instruction for this State. The College charter was 
granted in the Winter of 1833-4. Piev. Elihu Baldwin, pastor 
of the Seventh Prcsbvterian Churcli of New York citv, was 



;i5i 

elioseu its first President in DecemLer, 18o4, with the following- 
faculty and ofiicers, viz: E. (). Hovej^ Trofessor of Ehetoric and 
Belles Lettrcs; Calelj Mills, Profcssoi- of Languages; John S. 
Thompson, Professor of Mathematics, and Robert C. Gregory, 
Esq., Treasurer. Doctor Baldwin Avas a man of great kindness 
of heart and urbanity of manners. His style of eloquence was 
simple, persuasive, charming. His valuable services terminated 
by death on the 15th day of October, 1840. The students in a 
body visited him on his death-bed, and when asked, "Have you 
any message for the students?" his reply was, "Tell them to seel- 
first the kingdom of God; mi/ heart's desire and proi/er to God is, 
that they may he saved." These were his last words. 

The Indiana Asbury University, at (Jreencastlc, was incorpo- 
rated January 10, 1837, under the patronage of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church of the State. The "Preparatory Department" 
was opened June 5, 1837, Rev. Cyrus Xutt, A. B., Principal. 
Rev. Matthew Simpson, A. M. (now Bishop Simpson), was 
elected first President in May, 1839. His associates were Rev. 
C. Nutt, Professor of Latin and Greek; Rev. J. W. Weakley, A, 
B., Principal of Preparatory Department; the I'rustees named in 
the act of incorporation were: Robert R. Roberts, John Cowgill, 
A. C. Stevenson, Wm. IL Thornburgli, William Talbott, Rees 
Hardesty, Joseph Crow, John W. (Jsborn, Thomas Robinson, 
Hiram ll Talbott, James Montgomery, Daniel Sigler, Isaac 
Watkins, Tarwin W. Cowgill, W^m. Lee, Wm. K. Cooper, Cal- 
vin Fletcher, Gamaliel Taylor, Martin M. Ray, Isaac C. Elston, 
S. C. Leonard. W. W. Hitt, Joseph A. Wright, Tighlman A. 
Howard, and Jacob Hays. 

Several additional Professorships have been added to these 
Colleges, which have steadily increased in popularity, influence 
and favor among the people. In almost every State and territory 
of our beloved Union, and in foreign lands may be found those 
who look back to these institutions as their A/ma Muter. 

In the year 1840, Mother Theodore, of France, established St. 
Mary's of the Woods, a Catholic Female Seminary, in Vigo 
county, about four miles west of Tcrre Haute. This is a very 
popular and prosperous institution, and is largely patronized by 
the Catholics, as well as many Protestants, throughout the western 
countrv. 



152 

Prior to tlie year 1880, a Mr. Eapp, from near Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania, settled his colony of Harmonites in the town of 
New Harmony, in Posey county, Indiana. His plans in regard 
to his society, not succeeding to his wishes, he disposed of his 
interest in the town to Robert Owen, of Scotland, father of David 
Dale Owen, our State Geologist, and of Robert Dale Owen, late 
resident Minister of the United States at Naples, and author of 
"Footfalls on the Boundaries of Another World." 

Mr. Owen used every effort to promote the interest of his com- 
mon commimity; but his sanguine hopes were doomed to disap- 
pointment. Like the majority of similar associations based upon 
the common community principle, the New Harmony colony 
proved a failure, and property in the village greatly depreciated 
in value. Houses and lots which cost from six to ten hundred 
dollars, were afterward sold at from two to four hundred dollars, 
on long credits. 

On the 4th day of July, 182G, Ex-Presidents John Adams 
and Thomas Jefferson passed to the spirit land, while the peans 
of liberty were echoing throughout the length and breadth of the 
glorious Republic they assisted to rear. The news of their death 
was received by the pioneer settlers of Crawfordsville with pro- 
found sorrow. Every conversation in regard to the departed 
j)atriots and sages, was a eulogy from the hearts of their admiring 
countrymen. 

In September or October of the same year, the celebrated and 
eccentric preacher, Lorenzo Dow, visited Crawfordsville, and 
preached several sermons, drawing large audiences. Many anec- 
dotes and sayings of this world-renowned minister, who was of 
"Methodist warp and Quaker filling," were related many years 
after his visit to the Wabash country. 

On the night of the 12th of November, 1833, the heavens were 
literally filled with blazing meteors, darting about in every 
direction from the zenith to the horizon, resembling falling stars, 
presenting a suljlime and terribly grand spectacle. Many thought 
the day of judgment had come, and that the stars were flying from 
before the face of the angel that was descending to place one foot 
upon the sea and the other upon the land, and swear that "Time 
can be no longer." Serious consequences resiilted to many on 
account of this brilliant display of a'rial fire-works. Some, 



153 

according to accounts given in the newspapers, fainted and foil to 
tlie earth, others became insane, and a few sickly and nervous 
individuals died of the fright produced by this supeinal illumi- 
nation. 

The hrst appearance of the Asiatic cholera on the Wal)ash, was 
in the Spring of 1833, when several cases occurred on boats that 
passed up and down the river. During the Stmrmers of 1849 and 
1854, this dreadful malady swept over the land, like an angel of 
desolation. Almost every town and village along the Wabash, 
and many localities in the country, were called to mourn the loss 
of many of their oldest and most worthy citizens. Lafayette, 
during these two memorable Summers, lost over six hundred of 
her citizens, mostly adults, among whom were many of her most 
worthy inhabitants. 

In the Summer of 1834, there was a remarkable travel among 
the grey squirrels. Their appearance was sudden, and in a short 
time the woods and prairies literally swarmed with them for two 
or three weeks. Men and boys laid aside their guns, and killed 
scores of them with clubs, imtil they became tired of the slaughter 
— which at first was entered into as a matter of sport, but soon 
became an urgent business transaction, to protect their growing 
crops and granaries from the depredations of these hungry inva- 
ders; who, like the locusts and frogs of Egypt, were not only a 
great annoyance, but threatened to destroy the substance of the 
land. 

The establishing of the Branches of the State Bank at Yincennes, 
Terre Haute, Lafayette, and Fort Wayne, and the opening of 
the Wabash & Erie canal, gave a new impetus to the business 
of the Wabash valley, and gave a bright premise of a prosperous 
future. 

During the years of iSoO-G, the land speculation ran high 
throughout every portion of our country, and all the vacant lands 
were entered either by residents or speculators. The Hon. Henry 
L. Ellsworth (late deceased), for himself, and as agent for eastern 
capitalists, swept whole townships at a purchase, situate in Tip- 
pecanoe, Fountain, Warren, White, Benton and Jasper counties, 
in this State, as well as large quantities of land in Illinois, Mich- 
igan, Iowa and Wisconsin. The hard times set in shortly after 



154 

these entries, and the owners, who had to lay out of the interest of 
the money invested, besides that paid on the taxes of the land, 
made it for many years a doubtful investment. But the return 
of prosperous times, and the consequent rise of property, made 
Mr. Ellsworth and many others of the company immensely rich. 

The removal of the Indians west of the Mississippi was a mel- 
ancholy, but necessary duty. The time having arrived for the 
emigration of the Pottawatomies, according to the stipulations 
contained in their treaty with the United States, they evinced 
that reluctance common among aboriginal tribes, on leaving the 
homes of their childhood, and the graves of their ancestors. Love 
of country is a principle planted in the bosoms of all mankind, 
by the hand of the Creator. The Laplander and the Esquimaux 
of the frozen North, who feed on seals, moose, and the meat of the 
polar bear, would not exchange their country for the sunny clime 
of ' ' Araby the blest . " C olor and shades of complexion have noth- 
ing to do with the heart's best, warmest emotions. Then we 
.should not wonder if the Pottawatomie, on leaving his home on 
the Wabash, felt as sad as ^-Eschines did when ostracised from his 
native land, laved by the Avaters of the classic Scamander; and 
the noble and eloquent Nas-waAV-kay, on leaving the encampment 
on Crooked creek, felt his banishment as keenly as did Cicero, 
when thrust from the bosom of his beloved Rome, for which he 
had spent the best efforts of his life, and for whom he died. 

Li July, 1837, Col. Abel C. Pepper convened the Pottawato- 
mie nation of Indians at Lake Ke-waw-uay, for the purpose of 
removing them west of the ^Mississippi. That Fall a small party 
of some eighty or ninety Pottawatomies was conducted west of 
the Mississippi river by George Profifit, Esq. Among the num- 
ber were Ko-waw-nay, Ne-bash, Xas-waw-kay, Pash-po-ho, and 
niany other leading men of the nation. 

The regular emigration of the l*ottawatomies took place under 
Col. Pepper and Gen. Tipton, in the Summer of 1838. Hearing 
that this large emigration; Avhich consisted of about one thousand 
of all ages and sexes, would pass within eight or nine miles west 
of Lafayette, a few of us procured horses and rode over to see the 
retiring band, as they reluctantly wended their way toward the 
setting sun. It was a sad and mournful spectacle to witness 
these children of the forest slowlv retiring from the home of their 



155 

•childliood, that coiitaiucil not (.ulytlu' graves <>i liicii- i-iivcred 
ancestors, but many eiulcaring scenes to which their memories 
woukl ever recur as sunny spots along their pathway through the 
wilderness. They felt that they were bidding farewell to the hills, 
valleys and streams of their infancy; the more exciting hunting- 
grounds of their advanced youth; as well as the stern and bloody 
battle fields, wliere they had contended in riper manhood, on 
which they had received wounds, and where many of their friends 
and loved relatives had fallen, covered with gore and with glory. 
All these they were leaving beliind them to be desecrated by tlie 
plowshare of the white man. As they cast mournful glances back 
toward these loved scenes that were rapidly fading in the distance, 
tears fell from the cheek of the downcast warrior, old men trem- 
bled, matrons wept, the swarthy maiden's cheek turned pale, and 
sighs and half-suppressed sobs escaped from the motley groups as 
they passed along, some on foot, some on horseback, and others 
in wagons — sad as a funeral procession. I saw several of the 
aged warriors casting glances toward the sky, as if they were 
imploring aid from the spirits of their departed heroes, who were 
looking down upon them from the clouds, or from the Great 
Spirit, who would idtimately redress the wrongs of the red man, 
whose broken bow had fallen from his hand, and whose sad heart 
was bleeding within him. 

Ever and anon, one of the part}- would start out into the brush, 
and break back to their old encampments on Eel river, and on the 
Tippecanoe — declaring that they would rather die than be ban- 
ished from their country. Thus scores of discontented emigrants 
returned from different points on their journey, and it was several 
years before they could bo induced to join their countrymen west 
of the Mississippi. 

Several years after the removal of the rottawatomies, the 
Miami nation was removed to their western home, by coercive 
means, under an escort of United States troops. They were a 
proud and once powerful nation; but at the time of their removal 
were far inferior, in point of numbers, to their Pottawatomie 
gnests, whom they had permitted to settle and hunt upon their 
lands, and fish in their lakes and rivers, after they had been driven 
southward by powerful and warlike tribes, who inhabited the 
shores of the northern lakes. 



156 

The news of tlie death of General William H. Harri.son, within 
one month after he had been inaugurated President of the United 
States, to which office he had been called as if by acclamation, 
cast a deep gloom over the whole Eepublic, and the nation was 
mantled in mourning. The general grief was universal. Funeral 
processions and ceremonies were inaugurated all over the land; 
and orations were delivered, and eulogies pronounced, in every 
city and hamlet from the Balize to the Penobscot. As Indiana 
had been the theatre of the early struggles and most valuable 
services of the departed chieftain, and Tippecanoe county contain- 
ed a glorious battlefield, consecrated by the blood of fallen 
patriots, that had been won by him and his gallant compeers — it 
was deemed brrt meet and right that the citizens of Lafayette 
ghonld join in solemn ceremonies, that would evince their sorrow 
for the great national bereavement. A meeting was called, com- 
mittees were appointed, a day w\as fixed for the assemblage of the 
citizens, the order of procession was arranged, and on the 17th 
day of April, 1841, the Hon. Albert 8. White delivered an able 
and eloquent oration, in which he reviewed the life, character and 
eminent services of the de^jarted statesman; whose memory will 
be cherished by every patriot throughout the land, and more 
especially the people of the northwestei-n territory, which sprang 
into States under his wise guidance. 

In less than five years after the death of General Harrison, the 
nation was again called to mourn the death of Ex-President 
Andrew Jackson, whose name will ever occupy a bright page in 
the civil and military history of his coimtry. He was alike dis- 
tinguished for his T)old, decisive and energetic character, in the 
cabinet and in the field. A public meeting of the citizens of 
Tippecanoe county Avas held, at which preparations w^ere made 
for an appropriate observance of the funeral obsequies of the Hero 
of New Orleans; and on the 28th day of June, 1845, George Van 
Santvooid, Esq., delivered an able eulogy on the life, character 
and public services of the deceased, which was listened to with 
profound attention by a large audience, composed of members of 
all parties, who assembled to pay the lasttiibute of respect to the 
memory of the departed hero. 

The death of John <^)uincy Adams, Ex-President of the United 
States, on the 'iod dnv of P\4)ruarv, 1848, afforded another occa- 



157 

sion for the profound sorrow of the citizens of our Republic, and 
thcworhl. This patriot, statesman and diplomatist enjoyed the 
confidence and esteem of all parties in this country, in whose 
service he had spent his long, useful and eventful life. On the 
1st day of April, 1848, the Hon. Godlove S. Orth, hy request of 
a committee appointed at a piiblic meeting, delivered before an 
immense concourse of people, an appropriate and eloquent eulo- 
gium on the life and character of the "old man eloc|uent," which 
was responded to by unmistakeable evidences of the deep sympa^ 
thies of the vast assemblage, who keenly felt that one of the 
brightest stars in our political firmament had set. This great 
national calamity was soon followed by the death of Gen. Zachary 
Taylor, the hero of Palo Alto and Buena Vista, shortly after 
being called to the highest office in the gift of his grateful coun- 
trymen, and the death of Ex-President James K. Polk — whose 
departures to the spirit world were appropriately celebrated all 
over the nation. Robert Jones, Jr., pronounced a eulogy upon 
Zachary Taylor, which met with a hearty response in the bosoms 
of all who heard him. 

While on the subject of national bereavements, it would be an 
unpardonable omission, were I not to notice the death of Henry 
Clay, the world-renowned orator, patriot and philanthropist, who 
died June 29, 1852. Never did the heart of our great Republic 
feel a deejjer wound, than when this colossal statesman descended 
to his grave. The whole nation was shrouded in the deepest 
mourning. John A. Wilstach, Esq., selected for the purpose, 
pronounced an eloquent oration on the life, character and public 
services of the Sage of Ashland, at Johnson's Grove, on the 17th 
day of July, 1852, to the citizens of Lafayette and surrounding 
country. The concourse was large and attentive, and were anx- 
ious to treasnre uj) every syllable that fell from the lips of the 
speaker, who on the occasion seemed to catch the mantle of 
inspiration from the great subject of his eulogy, whose glowing 
eloquence had often fired the hearts of his countrymen, inciting 
them to noble, patriotic and generous deeds. When Greece was 
bleeding at every pore, and the haughty Turks, who had taken 
possession of the tomb of our Savior, and the graves of the 
prophets, were over-running that "land of science and of song," 
where Plato dwelt, and where Homer sung; and again. 



158 

when Siniuu Bolivar souylit to form a nebula ol' iVee State.> in tluy 
sister Republic of Mexico — Clay's clarion voice was beard in the 
councils of our nation, in behalf of the bleeding, suffering (Jrecks, 
and the benighted, struggling sons of the land of the Aztecs and 
Monteziuua. As long as eloquence, patriotism, genius, and merit 
are admired among mankind, the name of Clay will rank with 
that of Demosthenes, Cicero, Aristides, Cyrus aitd Solon of 
ancient times: and Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and that 
galaxy of American statesmen, which has descended beneath the 
verge of time's horizon, but Avhich still reflects back the glory of 
the undying viitues of each de])arted patriot ii[)on the laud he so- 
dearly loved. 

I would gladly furnish the reader with extraets from the several! 
funeral orations above alluded to, did not the restricted limits af 
these pages, which are fast drawing to a close, forbid it. But the 
names and the deeds of these emiirent and departed statesmen have 
long since been woven into the woof of history, and like the radiance 
of so many brilliant star.s, will continue to shine on, with undi- 
minished lustre, until the augcl of (}od shall sound the dismissal 
of time. 

I would here also state, that from the fact that \'incennes i-s 
the oldest settled portion of the Wabash vallc)-, and its minutely 
given history has been in many published works, ^\•itll which the 
public are familiar, 1 have omitted to incorporate in these "Rec- 
ollections" the history of that ancient town, whicli has been the 
theatre of many a battle, and thrilling incident, alluded to in the- 
Western Annals, Dillon's History of Indiana, and the writings of 
Judge Law, wdiose. facilities for correct information in regard tc* 
the history of that city, and of the lower Wabash country, have 
been unei[ualled. 

As I approach the close of my task, i regret that a want of 
space prevents me from drawing the contrast between the past and 
the present, and showing the readei' the vast changes that have 
taken ])lace in the appearance, condition and prospects of the 
Wabash valley within the last thirty rears. I have mostly con- 
fined my "Recollections" to the eastei'n or Indiana side of thu 
Wabash liver, Avith which I have been much the best acquainted, 
and will leave the Illinois side to the pen of one of its resident 
citizens, Avho is more familiar with tlui persons and incidents 



1 5< I 

connected with the early settlement of (he eji.steru |Miitioii of 
Illinois. Nothing hut a knowledge that the few remaining para- 
graphs will not permit, prevents me from attempting to give a 
hurried view of the present prosperous condition of the Wabash 
country, and pointing to those prospective advantages which will 
be the inevitahle result of the further rlcvelopment of its vast 
resources. Thus far T have confined my remarks to the "day of 
small things" — the planting of the ac(n-n, and rearing the tender 
sapling. I now fain would ])oint the i-eader to the large oak, 
with its huge trunk and wide-r;pread branches, towering toward 
the clouds. And in addition to the few old settler.s, with their log 
cabins and small farms, interspersed through dense forests, and 
along the edges of wide prairies, J would invoke the magic spirit 
of modern progress an<l improvement, and exliibit a land teeming 
with an active, thrifty and hapjiy po])ulation, who have made the 
"solitaiv places glad," and carried genius, learning and refine- 
ment throughout a land lately occupied Ity savages and Avild 
beasts. fruitful tiehls, smiling orchards, .-lud splendid and com- 
fortalde dwellings, liave sprung up on hill-top and in vallev, 
where but lately the lone owl hooted in daylight, and the wander- 
ing Indian built his camp lire by the sequestered stream, or distant 
buffalo trace, and poured on the ear of solitude the rude war-song 
of his sires. 

Cities, villages, and densely ]M>2)ulated neighborhoods, with 
their temples of justice, learning and religion, smile throughout 
the length and breadth of our fertile and l)eautiful valley. Ami 
as I am about to take my leave of the few obi settlers who still 
remain among us, and the sons, grandsons, and relatives of those 
who have passed froui the stage of action, 1 regret that I have not 
been able to present you with a more acceptable oftering. Ami 
to my many friends and acipiaintances, whose more recent resi- 
dence in the country has preventcil their names from a])pearing in 
these chronicles, 1 would say, your meiit is acknowledged, vour 
kindness and worth are fully appreciated, and [ promise you a 
seat at the ne.xt table, should 1 ever s2)read another of similai 
viands before the public. Then will appear a daguerreotype of 
those able ami distinguished ministers, physicians, attorneys, 
farmers, mechanics, merchants and citizens generally, many of 
Avhose names I can scarcely forbear giving, who will then have 



160 

ripened into old settlers, and be entitled to all the privileges and 
immunities of that honorable fraternity. 

To any of the old settlers whose names may not be mentioned 
in these pages, I Avould say, that the non-appearance of your 
name is the result rather of necessity than of design. And to 
others, who may think they would have selected other materials 
from the field I have passed over, and treated their subjects in a 
diffei-ent manner, I would say, we are apt to see things differently 
from different stand-points, and are quite prone to give a descrip- 
tion of them in our own way. When you go into a garden of 
rich and rare flowers to pluck and wreathe a garland, you select 
with care from the vast variety, so as to combine colors, fragrance, 
leaves, cups, stems and petals to the best advantage, without 
attempting to gather and carry all the flowers of the garden in 
your boquet. It is a chaplet, not a sheaf, that you bind and 
combine according to the best of your taste and skill. 

In early Spring, it would not be difficult to describe the open- 
ing buds and flowers that surround our dwellings, or spring up 
along our pathways by streamlets, and along the sunny side of the 
hills; but after this genial season has farther advanced, and the 
thickened herbage and flowers have invested the landscape with 
their variegated and numberless beauties — then it is that we feel 
it impossible for us to keep pace in our description with the unfold- 
ing glories of that exuberant vegetation that mantles the green 
earth. So it is m regard to the first settlement of a new country. 
We may allude to a few of the first settlers, whose log cabins, at 
wide intervals, dot forests and prairies; but when wave after 
wave of emigration has for years poured a steady current of pop- 
ulation into the bosom of those forests and prairies, we then feel 
utterly unable to delineate the constantly recurring changes, and 
give a portrait of the condition and appearance of the country. 



THE END. 



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